Iranian director wins Oscar but cannot enter the US
As an Islamic nation, Iran has its own standards in censorship of films.
There are no projects invested in large amounts of "millions of USD" or "billions of USD", nor are there "hot scenes", sensational, shocking themes, Iranian films take the theme from life, truthfully reflecting the fate of people.
Iranian cinema is classified as art films, many works are astonishing to world critics.
In Asia, Iran is one of the countries with a resounding film industry when many works won awards at the most prestigious film festivals in the world, from the Oscars to the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlin Film Festival...
At the 2017 Oscars, Iran's film "The Salesman" won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
The Salesman" is directed by Asghar Farhadi, this is the 2nd time this Iranian director has won an Oscar.
Previously, in 2012, director Asghar Farhadi won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film with the work "A Separation".
Winning the award for the 2nd time awarded by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), but director Asghar Farhadi did not come to receive the award, due to the US entry ban imposed on 7 Muslim countries, including Iran.
According to US media reports, in the fierce Oscar race, Iran's "The Salesman" is facing fierce competition with Germany's "Toni Erdmann".
When the entry ban on 7 Muslim countries (including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Syria) was issued by the US, the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted for "The Salesman" to win an Oscar to express its opposition to the entry ban.
US media also reported that in 2017 Iranian director Asghar Farhadi did not attend the Oscars.
Director Farhadi sent a handwritten letter thanking the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for awarding the Oscar for his work, and he criticized the entry ban that President Trump is targeting Islamic countries.
Iran and excellent films
The Salesman" before winning the Oscar premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where Asghar Farhadi won the "Best Screenplay" award, and the main actor of the film Shahab Hosseini won the "Best Actor" award.
The Salesman" revolves around the story of a couple in Tehran, Emad and Rana. After the incident at the old house, Emad and Rana moved to a new apartment. The old owner of this apartment is described as a woman standing on the street, with a dissolute and flirtatious personality. The consequences occur, when one day Emad comes home late from work, his wife - Rana is attacked while showering.
From here, a rift begins to occur in the marriage of Emad and Rana. Emad tries every way to track down the man who broke into his house and attacked his wife.
Outwardly, it looks like Emad is trying to make up for, avenge his sins, and avenge Rana. But in reality, he is bitter, avenging himself, because he himself cannot overcome the "humiliation" in his wife being attacked while showering.
The Salesman" is a complex psychological journey of Emad and Rana. The incident that happened made their house "stunned", broken from within. Storms in Emad and Rana's hearts push them further and further, in countless humiliations and sufferings.
Asghar Farhadi explores the dark corners of human psychology. The film is slow, realistic, but dramatic and intense in its own way.
Sharing about his film, Asghar Farhadi said that the film has a very tight budget, even not enough money to make English subtitles.
The director did not think "The Salesman" would be screened abroad, he only hoped the film would be well received by Iranian audiences. Beyond the director's imagination, "The Salesman" has caused astonishment at both the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars.
The Salesman" is like many works of Iranian cinema, a realistic perspective on life. Each film is a simple, everyday story about human fate in a turbulent era.
World film critics have repeatedly mentioned Iran's film "Blackboards" (original title: Blackboards), as an excellent work.
Black Board" by female director Samira Makhmalbaf revolves around the lives of teachers in a border area who yearn to teach, each teacher wearing a black board on their back, going to each village to persuade everyone to learn.
When he met a group of young people carrying smuggled goods across the border, the teacher invited them to study, but the children refused because they were busy transporting goods. When the teacher met the elderly, they also refused to study, with the reason "we are old, why study anymore". The desire to teach made the story of "Black Panther" both emotional and fierce.
The Black Panther" caused a stir, receiving a jury award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000.
Currently, an Iranian film that is being mentioned a lot is "It was just an accident" by director Jafar Panahi. The film won the Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and is considered a strong candidate for the 2026 Oscars.
