criterionforum.org

THR: “Did Oscar Winner Asghar Farhadi Steal the Idea for ‘A Hero’?”

A former student sues the Iranian auteur for pilfering her premise for his recent short-listed drama — an allegation he rejects — and risks 74 lashes if she loses the case.

Sounds very much like an Asghar Farhadi movie

If that report is correct, it seems like Farhadi initiated the legal proceedings against his former student, presumably knowing that she could be imprisoned and lashed if he prevailed. Not exactly on-brand for the director!

I believe that's what's called a Farhadian slip

zedz wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 4:44 am If that report is correct, it seems like Farhadi initiated the legal proceedings against his former student, presumably knowing that she could be imprisoned and lashed if he prevailed. Not exactly on-brand for the director!

It would make him even more fraudulent if he didn't know- he doesn't strike me as someone who isn't entirely conscious of systemically-imposed consequences on the people in his homeland

Not a fan. His work has never felt "real" to me -- unlike the case with Iranian film makers whose works I like a lot. Never been quite sure what put me off.

And now Farhadi found guilty of plagiarism, punishment is yet to be determined but could range from giving up profits made from A Hero to prison time - quite the difference!

I for one can’t imagine why the Iranian court system might decide against Farhadi regardless of his actual guilt. The student film in question was a documentary, by the way

My recollection is that unlike Kiarostami and Panahi and Makhmalbaf, Farhadi has been treated as a golden boy by the Iranian powers-that-be (up until now). Am I remembering wrong?

A bit. There’s a documentary on I think A Separation which says that he got nominated to punish him and the government doesn’t really trust him.

yoloswegmaster wrote: Mon Oct 31, 2022 9:51 pm More details on the plagiarism accusation

Heartbreaking to read. It doesn't diminish his films, they're still very good, but it's really unfortunate if he's blatantly lifting ideas from others without giving them their due, whether if it's compensation or at least some type of appropriate credit.

Does anyone know what’s going on with Farhadi’s films right now? It appears that all three Sony Blu-rays are OOP (A Separation, the Past, and the Salesman), as are Universal’s Everybody Knows Blu and Grasshopper’s Fireworks Wednesday DVD

I assume Cinema Guild still has About Elly

It and the Film Movement twofer are still in print

"A Hero" has not had a physical release in North America at all.
Amazon seems to have the rights, but has not released a physical product.
There is a German Blu Ray without English Subtitles.
There is an Australian DVD with English subtitles.

domino harvey wrote: Mon Nov 10, 2025 5:48 pm Grasshopper’s Fireworks Wednesday DVD

Looks like this was between pressings or restockings as it’s available on Amazon and direct from Grasshopper again

I have to think someone obtained the rights to his studio works