His emotion was palpable during the awarding of his acting prize at the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. Zar Amir Ebrahimi dazzled the jury of the 75th edition with her role in The Nights of Mashhad, by Ali Abbasi. A strong role in a film that is just as strong, on the place of women in Iran, through the story of a serial killer who preys on prostitutes. This role, that of a journalist who will conduct her own investigation to find him, echoes a bit the life of the actress. Great star in Iran in the 2000s, she was forced to leave the country after a sex scandal. We met her a few days after her coronation, here is her interview.
Mashhad Nights by Ali Abbasi starring Zar Amir Ebrahimi: review, trailer and invitations
Plunge into the Iran of the early 2000s with "The Nights of Mashhad". The new film by Ali Abbasi ("Border") tells the true story of the Spider Killer, who killed prostitutes in the holy city. Actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi was awarded the Best Actress prize at the Cannes 2022 Film Festival. The film will be released in cinemas on July 13, 2022. Enter the competition at the bottom of the article to win your tickets. [Read more]
Sortiraparis: Has the emotion died down since you won the award at Cannes?
Zar Amir Ebrahimi : I am beginning to understand everything that happened. I'm on cloud nine and I haven't woken up yet. It's crazy. I saw it as a great message of encouragement, I was given the opportunity to be seen, to be heard, as the person I am and not as an actress. Itgives an immense value to all that I have lived, all the efforts that I have made.
It's a very symbolic award, when you know your story.
I know it will be judged as a political award, but I had a lot of feedback during the festival. I know that this film touched them and that the role spoke to them. I laughed when they told me I would receive the prize, I thought it would be impossible... When I see all the actresses who could have won it, it encourages me. All that I did, it is not for nothing.
How did the meeting between the director Ali Abbasi and you take place?
It was completely by chance. Some producer friends told me about him and this project. We met in Paris, he told me about the project and explained that he was looking for a casting director who knew Iranian actresses well, for the role of this journalist. I was critical of Iranian cinema in the diaspora. All the Iranian actors who live in Europe are my friends and they are very talented, but there is always this will to adapt to the non-Iranian audience. We got along well with Ali right away. We were on the same wavelength and we had the same requirements. I even became associate producer. I loved this role from the beginning. My work as a casting director pushed me to get to know it well and work on it. Ali had even cast me, but I had never thought of playing it myself. A week before the shoot, the actress we had chosen had to drop out, and we couldn't find anyone to replace her. Ali then proposed me to play the role. I had worked a lot on it, I had ideas, subtleties, I had shaped this character by putting in my personal life.
We can see in this role your response to Iran, after all that you lived there.
Yes, I think so. She is a girl who fights. They want to take away her voice, but she won't allow it. She's struggling in her job. She is sexually harassed, the government is against her. Even her colleague does not want to go with her. I searched hard for the motivations that could have driven her to risk her life to this extent. I ended up seeing myself in this role. When you're in a religious society, certain sexist behaviors fall into place, especially when you're a female journalist. I know these harassment situations very well, and I experienced them even more during my last year in Iran.
Do you think that The Nights of Mashad will be seen in Iran?
Of course it will! It is the most anticipated film. Of course, it will be under the radar, as always.
Would you be ready to resume a career in Iran, if you have the opportunity?
It's so impossible [rires]. I don't know under what conditions it could happen. Either the Iranian state changes its mind about women, about cinema, about everything. Since I live my life in France, I have much more freedom, I act in more films, it does not help my case in the eyes of the Iranian government.
Would you be interested in a French career?
Yes, of course. I live in Paris, everything happens here for me. I have the impression that it is even late to start a career. I have given everything, but French cinema is rather closed. There is a problem with the roles I am offered in France, they are always immigrants, victims of immigration. I'm not going to say that I'm not an immigrant, nor that these victims don't exist, but there are also more positive aspects. I don't want to do the same kind of role over and over again.
And if you want to discover the film, go to the cinema on July 13!
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Mashhad Nights by Ali Abbasi starring Zar Amir Ebrahimi: review, trailer and invitations
