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    Movie Review

    Iranian film A Hero stretches its thin story to the brink

    Alex Bentley
    Jan 5, 2022 | 10:53 am
    Amir Jadidi in A Hero
    Amir Jadidi in A Hero.
    Photo by Amir Hossein Shojaei

    For fans of international films, Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has been a reliably good storyteller. Two of his films – 2011’s A Separation and 2016’s The Salesman – won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film (now named Best International Feature Film), and his other films have been well-regarded and rewarded with a slew of honors.

    His latest film, A Hero, is a morality tale that is as well made as his other films, but features a story that hinges on a very thin plot point. It centers on Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who’s been granted two days leave from prison, where he is serving time for failure to pay a debt. When an attempt to pay his creditor with some dubiously-obtained gold coins goes awry, Rahim decides to do the honorable thing and return the gold that was never his in the first place.

    It’s this decision that starts a cascade of poor choices by Rahim and strange reactions by those affected by the choices. He publicizes the return of the purse, most likely to try to curry favor with the prison and the public at large. And while that tack mostly works, a few doubters, including his creditor and a person who controls the fate of a potential job, keep his plan from succeeding the way he wants it to.

    When it comes to understanding a story about an unfamiliar culture, international audiences can have many bumps in the road. For instance, the concept of going to jail for failing to pay a debt is one that is foreign to Americans, having not been used widely in the United States since the mid-1800s. But it’s another particular aspect of Iranian culture shown in the film that proves to be a serious impediment in Farhadi’s storytelling.

    Rahim receives enormous attention for his “good deed” of returning the purse, including a TV interview, an official commendation, a fundraiser to help pay his debt, and more. The idea of the simple act, especially one that is not witnessed by anyone but his family, getting this much attention is eyebrow-raising at best, laughable at worst. The fact that the entire dramatic arc of the film relies on so many people making such a fuss about his seemingly-selfless act is a showstopper in the bad sense of the word.

    As the attention forces Rahim to keep digging himself in deeper on his initial lie, the film never becomes believable or interesting, with Farhadi seeming to think that the situation contains a deeper meaning than it actually does. It raises the question of the impact watching something in a foreign language can have. If this was an American film in English, would it be as warmly received?

    None of the actors are bad, but the questionable nature of the story holds back their performances. Jadidi is required to go back and forth between being pleading and indignant, and he never quite gains a foothold on the performance.

    In the case of A Hero, Farhadi doesn’t seem to understand that you can only add on so many story elements before the whole thing starts to strain under the weight. If he had made the story a bit subtler, one that didn’t make the audience suspend their disbelief so much, it might have been more successful.

    ---

    A Hero opens in select theaters on January 7. It debuts on Amazon Prime Video on January 21.

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    Weekend Event Planner

    These are the 14 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 19, 2025 | 6:00 am
    DRUMline Live
    Photo courtesy of DRUMline Live
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    This weekend across Dallas will be one to celebrate Juneteenth, pride, top golfers, music, theater, and more. Choices include a major golf tournament, four concerts, three theater productions, a big block party, two comedians, a special drum performance, and the final days of a unique immersive audio experience.

    Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

    Thursday, June 19

    Dallas Historical Society presents “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom” opening day
    Leading off the many Juneteenth festivities around DFW is "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom," which explores the historic origins of Juneteenth and its lasting impact. The exhibition features two components: the “Historical Track,” which includes firsthand accounts of emancipation shared by formerly enslaved individuals, and the “Celebration Track,” which invites visitors to recording their own stories and sentiments. Also on display is the Dallas Historical Society’s Juneteenth Order No. 3, the only remaining copy of those hand-delivered to Texas in 1865 to declare that enslaved people were free. The exhibition will remain on display through October 19 at the Hall of State in Fair Park.

    KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
    The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the most prestigious and second-oldest women’s Major Championship, will be the first in its over 70-year history to be played in Texas. The Championship showcases the best female players in the world, including 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Champion Amy Yang. The tournament takes place through Sunday at Fields Ranch in Frisco.

    Bibi in concert
    Unlike most music exports from South Korea in recent years, singer/rapper Bibi has never been part of a K-Pop group. Like most of them, though, she was part of a reality music competition, The Fan, on which she finished second in 2018. After a couple of EPs, she released her debut album in 2022, and she is now touring in support of her second album, the new Eve: Romance. She'll perform at The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

    Shakespeare Dallas presents Othello
    In this Shakespearean tragedy, Othello is at the peak of his powers: not only Venice's greatest general but also husband to the noble and beautiful Desdemona. But he does not know that in passing over his servant Iago for promotion, he has created a deadly-but-brilliant enemy. This Shakespeare in the Park production from Shakespeare Dallas will get a modern twist, set in an alternate history version of the 1990s in which the Venetian empire is the predominant political, military, and economic power. It will run in repertory with The Importance of Being Earnest at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre through July 20.

    Friday, June 20

    Dallas Arts District Pride Block Party
    To celebrate Pride Month, Dallas Arts District will partner with its three museums - Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Museum of Asian Art - to present a Pride Block Party. There will be pride-themed tours, performances, films, artists, gourmet food trucks, makers, Dallas artists, informational tables, activities, and more.

    Mo Amer: El Oso Palestino Tour
    Mo Amer is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and actor who grew up in Houston. He is known for his Netflix comedy special Mo Amer: The Vagabond and as a member of the comedy trio Allah Made Me Funny. Amer also appeared in the Hulu sitcom Ramy for two seasons. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

    Luke Bryan in concert
    Country singer Luke Bryan has been one of the top artists in the genre since his debut in 2007, scoring nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country charts, success that has allowed him to up his profile by appearing on The Voice and, since 2018, serving as a judge on American Idol. He'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in support of 2024 album, Mind of a Country Boy.

    The Hopeful Theatre Project presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid
    In the beloved Disney classic The Little Mermaid, King Triton's youngest daughter Ariel wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. The production, running through Sunday at Kalita Humphreys Theater, will benefit Turtle Island Restoration Network.

    AT&T Performing Arts Center presents DRUMline Live
    DRUMLine Live is an international tour based on the Historically Black College and University marching band tradition. The stage show, a synchronized musical showcase of the HBCU experience, features original compositions and soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits. The performance takes place at Winspear Opera House.

    Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Pride Night with DSO
    Pride Night with DSO is an evening celebrating love, identity, and community. Conducted by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the special performance will feature vocalists Christian Dante White, Maiya Sykes, and the Turtle Creek Chorale. The program will include Broadway hits, movie classics, and disco favorites. The concert takes place at Meyerson Symphony Center.

    Saturday, June 21

    Teatro Dallas presents Entre Páginas
    Entre Páginas is a musical for children and teens, written by Jorge Cogollo, in which six actors on stage give life to the story of a girl who loses the final page of a story. In search of her happy ending, she embarks on a magical journey in the library trying to find a writer to help her complete the end of the story. The production, featuring four performances through June 29, is performed in Spanish with an English synopsis.

    Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra in concert
    Thee Phantom combines the energy and passion of hip-hop, with the beautiful, sweeping sounds of live orchestration featuring strings, horns, woodwinds, and a pianist. Add to that a soul songstress, a crowd controlling DJ and a fire breathing MC and that is still but a fraction of what you'll get when you catch Thee Phantom & the Illharmonic Orchestra in action. They'll perform at Winspear Opera House.

    Majestic Theatre presents Sheng Wang
    Comedian, actor, and writer Sheng Wang, originally from Houston, has released one Netflix special, Sweet & Juicy, in September 2022. He was a featured stand-up comedian on HBO’s 2 Dope Queens special and also wrote for the ABC show Fresh Off the Boat. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

    Sunday, June 22

    AT&T PAC & Realscape Productions present Darkfield: Séance, Flight, and Coma closing day
    After three months, the immersive audio experience Darkfield - located at Sammons Park - will come to a close. It features three experiences: Séance, Flight, and Coma, each of which is staged within a custom-built shipping container. The pitch-black environments utilize 360-degree binaural sound and innovative sensory effects to create immersive worlds that challenge perceptions and evoke deep emotional responses.

    DRUMline Live
      
    Photo courtesy of DRUMline Live

    AT&T Performing Arts Center presents DRUMline Live at Winspear Opera House on June 20.

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