Wow! ifilm interviews Shahab Hosseini

ifilm has snagged an exclusive interview with Iran acting powerhouse Shahab Hosseini who played a key role in Oscar-winning ‘The Salesman’.

The mega actor started his artistic career with theater plays. He made his way to the top slow and steady by making cameo appearances in theater plays and TV series before taking on the lead roles of many films by Iranian auteurs.      

Below are select highlights of what the actor said in an exclusive interview with ifilm conducted in Persian.

ifilm: Recently, ‘Zero Degree Turn’ was run by ifilm, my first question for you is that how you made appearance in the series that narrates life, history, love and death.

Hosseini: I always care about the ups and downs of a character. When I read Hassan Fathy’s screenplay, I found the character I was supposed to feature so strong. Habib is a young fellow who leaves his homeland and has to make hard decisions. He has his own logic, is fond of reading books, goes to prison and stands up for his beliefs. Such character had so much to say that I leaped in the dark and accompanied him.

ifilm: contrary to popular belief, making films outside Iran is a real hassle. However, it appears that the series was produced with less difficulty.

Hosseini: Totally, as they say “we're in safe hands” making the series. Our way of making films differs from that of Europeans. While shooting the project abroad, a whole street got secluded for filming.  There was no coming and going of cars and people in the street.

ifilm: Talking about ‘Zero Degree Turn’ with no mention of ‘love’ is not possible. We cannot overlook Paul Eluard’s poem here (I love you for all the time I have not lived). The main reason for the attraction of such work could be the way Hassan Fathy looks at love. 

Hosseini: What a sweet recollection! Yes, essence of human creation is love. Love has neither any boundaries nor any nationality and ethnicity. It lies within every human. The message of the series is this. Being a Muslim, Jew or Christian has no conflict with love. Fathy is smart and learned director. He knows the drama genre well. More importantly, he has a good command in acting. I think just Fathy can picture such definition of love.

AG/AG