Iranian hailed for his role in Venice

Iranian actor Mohsen Tanabandeh has been hailed for his “extraordinary” performance in ‘World War III’, which is taking part in the 2022 edition of the Venice International Film Festival in Italy.

The film “starts out as jet-black comedy before darkening still further into tragedy, a journey embodied in an absorbing and extraordinary central performance by Mohsen Tanabandeh as the film’s downtrodden hero”, reads an article published by Screen Daily on Wednesday.

The review comes as ‘World War III’, directed by Houman Seyyedi, is taking part in Orizzonti section of the Venice International Film Festival.

Tanabandeh plays the role of Shakib, a worker who has lost his wife and child in an earthquake.

Shakib works in a place where a movie on the World War is being filmed, and when one of the actors collapses, Shakib has been chosen as his stand-in.

Shakib is allowed to stay in the actor’s fake mansion, but on condition that he doesn’t receive any visitors, but he makes a decision that endangers his fate.

The film is co-written by Seyyedi, Arian Vazir-Daftari, and Azad Jafarian.

Besides Tanabandeh, the cast members of the film include Neda Jebreeli, Mahsa Hejazi, and Navid Nosrati.

The Venice International Film Festival, which is officially recognized by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Association), aims to “raise awareness and promote international cinema in all its forms as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue”, website of the event reads.

The 79th edition of the festival kicked off on August 31 and will run until September 10.

SQ/MG