Hollywood Reporter lauds Iran Oscar entry

Iranian drama ‘Breath’ by Narges Abyar has been hailed by leading US film magazine The Hollywood Reporter as a noticeable Oscar contender.

Director Narges Abyar has gained international attention as a rising star, which “should help ‘Breath’ get some deserved notice” as it becomes Iran’s foreign-language film 2018 Oscar submission, the Hollywood Reporter wrote on its website recently.

“Here an insightful woman director’s POV is a welcome plus, along with an astonishing performance by first-timer Sareh Nour Mousavi in the emotion-packed main role of the motherless Bahar,” the website noted.

‘Breath’ has a soft screenplay of antiwar nature. It depicts the story of four kids, Bahar, Nader, Kamal and Maryam, who are growing up in the early 80s amid Iraq’s imposed war on Iran.

The female lead, Bahar, has a world with fascinating childish dreams that never come true as the war wouldn’t make room for them.

Besides ‘Breath’, Abyar, a novelist and documentarian, has also directed ‘Track 143’ winning the audience Crystal Simorgh as well as the award for Best Female Actress in a Leading Role which went to Merilla Zarei at the 32nd Fajr Film Festival in Tehran, Iran.

Meanwhile, ‘Breath’ has won a number of Crystal Simorghs, including one for Best Film with National View at the 34th edition of the Fajr Film Festival in February, 2016, in Tehran.  It has also been honored at various international cinematic events.

Abyar bagged two Best Director awards for the feature at the 2016 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and the 12th Vancouver International Women in Film Festival, Canada.

AI/AG