Iran feature 'Blockage' to vie in German filmfest

Iranian acclaimed feature 'Blockage' has been selected to compete at the 36th edition of the Munich International Film festival – Filmfest Munchen, in Germany.

Directed by Mohsen Qaraei and produced by Bahman Kamyar, ‘Blockage’ will be screened in the International Independents competition section of the German event.

The flick chronicles a devastating chaos that occurs to a ferocious, contemptible man who works as a street vendor control officer.

Qasem is a temporary worker who cracks down on illegal street stalls in Tehran. His hot temper always invites trouble, and recently, he was caught getting kickbacks from stall keepers, impeding his chance to re-sign the contract.

His plan to get a truck with his wife’s share of an inheritance from her parents conflicts with her dream to move out of her parents’ house with the same money.

When Qasem argues with a stall owner, the stall owner comes to Qasem’s house deep in the night and makes suspicious demands. He even comes to Qasem’s office and threatens him with a lawsuit.

‘Blockage’ follows a few confusing days in Qasem’s life, who is good at making backdoor deals. It takes the audience’s breath away by chasing the struggles of the protagonist with the opportunity of a lifetime in his hands.

The flick has attended a number of international events so far, winning some awards, including the best film prize at New Currents section of the 22nd Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, the best leading actor award for Hamed Behdad at the 2nd Malaysia Golden Global Awards, and special mention from the 2018 Sofia International Film Festival in Bulgaria.

Behdad, Baran Kosari, Mohsen Kiaee, Nader Fallah, Giti Qasemi and Alireza Kamali star in the film.

ifilm has recently published an exclusive interview with Qaraei, Kamyar and Qasemi on the movie ‘Blockage’. Click here to watch the report.

The Munich festival in its Spotlight category will also screen Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s latest drama 'Everybody Knows' that was shot in Spain with Oscar-winning couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

The Munich International Film festival is one of Europe's biggest summer film festivals, where more than 2,000 German and international professionals from film, TV and media gather for the festival each year.

The 36th edition of the German festival is slated for June 28-July 7, 2018.

MG/MG