Review | Parallel Tales: Asghar Farhadi Misfires with Latest French Excursion
Farhadi’s first film in five years turns a spying premise into a story about creativity, imagination and sound.
- Iranian director Asghar Farhadi returns to Cannes competition with Parallel Tales, his first film in five years and fifth festival appearance. The "wickedly entertaining" feature stars Isabelle Huppert.
- Farhadi's French-language film is "freely inspired by director Krzyszof Kieslowski," reimagining his legendary ten-hour television series, Dekalog. Farhadi collaborated on the screenplay with his brother, Saeed Farhadi.
- Novelist Sylvie spies on sound designers Nicholas, Theo, and Nita through her telescope, imagining their lives across a Paris avenue. Her assistant, Adam Bessa, soon begins meddling in her creative work.
- Critics note Bessa's slippery assistant is "the key to everything coming unwound." Catherine Deneuve appears briefly as Sylvie's publisher, and production design is described as "first rate."
- With the 100th anniversary of talking pictures approaching in 2027, Parallel Tales serves as a tribute to the art of sound design. Reviewers describe the work as "a keeper.
29 Articles
29 Articles
‘Parallel Tales’ Review: A Deluxe Ensemble Led by Isabelle Huppert and Virginie Efira Can’t Help Asghar Farhadi’s Aimless Movie Find Its Compass
Isabelle Huppert and Virginie Efira top a starry ensemble in 'Parallel Tales,' Asghar Farhadi’s French-language drama about voyeurism and imagination.
Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi finds the Cannois competition for the fifth time. "Pparallel Stories" is his second French film, but the first one that has no connection with the country in which he still residesPparallel Stories, released at the same time as his screening, Thursday night, in the competition of the 79th Cannes Festival, is the tenth feature film of Asghar Farhadi, and also the second one directed in France, far from his native …
‘Parallel Tales’ Review: Asghar Farhadi’s Dire Kieślowski Adaptation Turns ‘A Shot Film About Love’ Into a Long Film About Nothing
Isabelle Huppert plays a novelist who spies on her neighbors in a movie about voyeurism that offers little to look at and even less to see.
‘Parallel Lives’ Review: Isabelle Huppert Spies On Her Neighbors In Asghar Farhadi’s Entertaining And Smartly Executed French Drama -Cannes Film Festival
The great Iranian director Asghar Farhadi is back in Cannes competition for the 5th time with his first film in five years and arguably one that ranks with his very best. That is a high bar since two of his movies, 2011’s A Separation and 2016’s The Salesman both went on to win the Best […]
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