Known for his intimate cinematic depictions of struggling lower-class families, Asghar Farhadi manages to build a world of systemic destitution in a third-world country without the overreliance on poverty porn. A Hero is an incredibly complex navigation in the grey areas of a man’s overnight success followed by a downward spiral tale that is never black or white. It follows the intricacies of all the reasons why the poor remain poor, and the rich become richer — and how the media, social media, and the local government play their roles in it. It explores the value of generosity to the poor and how it is never a selfless act — it’s a two-way streak between the giver and the receiver that we rarely see depicted on film.
The film could’ve easily taken the route of becoming preachy or earnest, but it didn’t. It doesn’t bombard you with morals or lessons — rather, it tells you the story for what it is, completely free from romanticism and glorification. It didn’t indulge itself in visual hyperboles that could’ve painted a poverty-stricken portrait from the outside looking in; rather, it takes you inside of this family’s most human conditions free from exaggerations or voyeurism. It neither begs for your sympathy nor asks you to hate those who abuse the powerless. The film fully respects the spectator’s judgment and allows one to use their own free will in assessing the loopholes in the justice system.
Amidst all the chaos and circus, Amir Jadidi is the central energy of it all, honing the film’s heart and spirit in a layered, nuanced portrayal as protagonist Rahim. His performance is subtle and internalized – his face says one thing, but everything else says otherwise. His energy, aura, and body language reflect what’s in his heart while his mind tries to convince him the opposite. The way he smiles and makes his eyes glimmer, juxtaposing his broken spirit and hopeless demeanor that’s so palpable on screen is riveting to watch. How do you portray resilience? You can’t. He really lived in the shoes of Rahim, and he found his way through the character by feeling every sense of his being and environment.
Rahim’s beautifully complicated characterization is, in huge part, due to Farhadi’s ability to write a multifaceted character. He made Rahim brave, charming, and likable – someone that the audience would root for. But at the same time, he allowed him to throw tantrums, make hasty decisions, entertain temptations, and lose his temper. He’s a character that was permitted to breathe his truth, expose his dark underbelly, and not just fulfill what’s expected from him. It was a neorealist character profile that never conformed to the “hero” trope. In a lot of ways, he’s both a hero and an anti-hero, which is exactly what real life is. No person is one thing – we are all a melting pot of different traits and characteristics.
A Hero will remain as one of the most honest, complex, and nuanced gems of 2021. Without a doubt, one of the best films of the year.
Grade: 9
