A Hero Review: Oscar-Winner Asghar Farhadi Offers Another Stunning Drama

The Iranian 2021 drama A Hero is universally relatable, which makes the snowballing misfortune all the more haunting. Another project written and directed by Asghar Farhadi — the man behind the Oscar-winning films  A Separation (2011) and The Salesman (2016) — A Hero examines the seemingly insurmountable challenges one family faces to pay back an old debt, all while questioning the ethics of their choices. There are no villains nor true heroes in this story — only everyday people doing the best they can in an increasingly bad situation. Simply put, Asghar Farhadi’s A Hero is a poignant morality play that shows how a single poor choice can have unforeseen, lifelong repercussions.

Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is an atypical protagonist in A Hero. The film opens with him on leave from prison, excitedly planning a way to pay off his outstanding debt, finally allowing him to be released from incarceration and start working toward regaining his “honor.” This is a recurring theme throughout — although the lines blur between “honor” and “pride.” The basic conflict in A Hero is surprisingly mundane: Rahim is incarcerated because of a debt he is unable to pay back. However, after a stroke of good luck, he comes across a windfall that can help him stay out of prison. Unfortunately for Rahim, the situation is complicated by various factors, all of which become increasingly problematic as time goes on.

The crux of the issue, at least in the beginning, is that Rahim owes money to a creditor who does not want to drop the complaint against him. Rahim is divorced, and his creditor is his former brother-in-law, Bahram (Mohsen Tanabandeh), to whom Rahim owes 150,000 toman. Iranian law permits the imprisonment of debtors (by request of the creditor) until either one of three conditions is met: the debtor is able to repay what he owes, the debtor proves that they are indigent, or the creditor is persuaded to withdraw the complaint. Rahim is obviously unable to earn money while in prison, which means he is completely dependent on charity — either family, friends, or even strangers paying off the debt for him, or the creditor withdrawing the complaint.

Farhadi presents a frustrating, and very believable, portrait of a struggling family with few options. Amir Jadidi gives a nuanced performance in the lead role, instilling his character Rahim with a surprising amount of depth. Ethically, Rahim occupies an uncomfortable space: while he shows signs of deviousness, and clearly made mistakes in the past, he still comes across as a well-meaning, loving father, brother, and boyfriend. Rahim is more deflated than roguish. A Hero shows how much the man enjoys being in the spotlight, a seemingly permanent grin is fixed to his face for the whole first act. But apart from a tendency to embellish his stories, Rahim appears to be an upstanding man. The man may not be beyond reproach, but he certainly doesn’t come across as someone who deserves to be incarcerated.

A Hero features various parties with differing motivations, which complicate Rahim’s situation in interesting and unexpected ways. Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust) is his secret girlfriend who wants to see him freed from prison. The creditor, Bahram, is clearly angry, but his position is nonetheless understandable. Even the charity that becomes involved in Rahim’s case and the prison administrators have their own angles, acting in ways that best serve their own interests. In many ways, A Hero presents a series of victims who struggle under the social pressures caused by an unjust system. Rahim has little chance of paying back his debt, but Bahram needs that money. Public image is a major concern of almost every character, which further muddies the ethical waters.

By the end of A Hero, even the most suspicious actions suddenly feel deeply insignificant. Farhadi takes a deceptively simple problem and imbues it with multiple layers of complexity — creating a baffling moral predicament in the process. The film offers a glimpse at the intimate home life of Rahim and his family, contrasting the stark, impersonal sterility of the prison with the warm, inviting environment within the home. It’s a remarkably compelling film that is sure to stay in the hearts and minds of audiences for years to come.

A Hero debuts on Amazon Prime Video on January 21, 2022. It is 127 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and language.

About The Author

Sarah Bea Milner
(333 Articles Published)

Sarah Milner is the Weekend Lead Editor for Screen Rant’s Film/Television features (SR Originals) division. She is a writer, editor, and folk musician. She often watches movies — sometimes she reviews them too.

A graduate of Trent University, Sarah’s MA thesis examines Frankenstein adaptations and their relationship with popular culture. She has a fierce love of all things “spooky,” and a deep appreciation for classic cinema.

More From Sarah Bea Milner