ifilm's exclusive report on 'Subdue'

Watch ifilm's exclusive report on 'Subdue' directed by Hamid Nematollah, starring Kourosh Tahami and Leila Hatami.

Below are the highlights of the report.

Hamid Nematollah, director: Why ‘Subdue’? I’ve never thought about it before. I have to think about it right now because it’s like this; there are different plots to work on and because filmmaking is not like poetry; to think about right now at the moment and make it happen, sometimes a project takes priority and another project is postponed. In fact the conditions for making ‘Subdue’ came up all of a sudden or I’d better put it this way that I was able to make it sooner so I did.

I took on the routine procedure. When I thought about the movie, I considered the standards just like anybody else does. I considered the actors and actresses who would suit the roles physically, also their expertise in depicting the roles and their cooperation.

I’ve heard that some say I’m strict on the set and some others believe that I’m easy-going at work. I think that we don’t have a very bad time on the set. You’d better ask Kourosh.

Kourosh Tahami, actor: I can’t say he is ill-tempered. Mr. Nematollah has a huge burden on his shoulders when he comes to the set. Sometimes I would want to arrange something with him or ask him a question or suggest something;‌ then I’d see how so deep in thought. You know I’ve worked with lots of directors at different ages, but I haven’t seen many like him. Sometimes you tell yourself to wait and see what his next position is; maybe that way you will be able to talk to him more comfortably and say what you want. He has his own characteristics.

Basically being an actor is a risk. I don’t want to be a stereotype and I’ve always tried hard not to be considered one. Because in our country, when you portray a role well, especially in your first and second projects, the next projects offered to you are of that same style. If you’re not picky in your choices, good things might not happen to you. I mean in the best sense possible, you’ll be turned into an actor who can portray a special kind of role very well. However, I’ve always tried to run away from this. Regarding the roles I take, even if they’re protagonists, I’d like it to be a bit different, at least be a protagonist with a grey side.

FM/AI