‘The Salesman’ from Iran wins Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

Iranian movie ‘The Salesman’ directed by Asghar Farhadi has won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.

The movie was competing with ‘Land of Mine’ from Denmark, ‘A Man Called Ove’ from Sweden, ‘Tanna’ from Australia and ‘Toni Erdmann’ from Germany.

This is the second time that Asghar Farhadi wins an Oscar. In 2012, he became the first Iranian to win the prestigious award for his film ‘A Separation’ which also won the Best Foreign Language award.

Farhadi boycotted the event in protest against US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order banning citizens of seven Muslim majority countries from entering the United States. He announced the decision in statement after the travel ban was introduced.

Representing Farhadi at the event were Anousheh Ansari who is a renowned engineer and was the first Iranian to travel to outer space and Firouz Naderi who spent many years in various technical and executive positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory where he contributed to some of America's most iconic robotic space missions.

At the ceremony, Anousheh Ansari read out a statement by Farhadi that said “My absence is out of respect for the people of my country, and those of the other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US.”

Iranian Foreign Minsiter Javad Zarif reacted to this win and tweeted: "Proud of cast & crew of "The Salesman" for Oscar & stance against #MuslimBan. Iranians have represented culture & civilization for millennia"

On Sunday evening in London, a free open air screening of The Salesman was held by London mayor Sadiq Khan at Trafalgar Square in protest to Trump’s Muslim ban which was attended by a large crowd.

The film also won Best Screenplay award for Asghar Farhadi and Best Actor award for Shahab Hosseini at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016.

HY/HY