Khook

Pig | Schwein
Hasan is seething with rage. A blacklisted director, it’s been years since he was allowed to shoot a film. The actress he has made a star and with whom he is in love now wants to make a film with another director. He and his wife have drifted apart and his daughter is also about to cut the cord. Moreover, his old mother who lives with them appears to be losing her mind. Worst of all, however, is that in Tehran and its environs, filmmakers are being murdered. But why is the serial killer ignoring him of all people? Hasan is crushed: isn’t he the best filmmaker in town? Why isn’t he being beheaded? His frustration is exacerbated when, as a result of a series of bizarre misunderstandings, he becomes the prime suspect. There’s a frenzy of running commentaries on social media and his popularity is plummeting by the minute. Hasan needs a diabolical plan to restore his reputation.
In Khook, narcissism and vanity run riot in all manner of forms, and punishment follows swiftly. And all of this without a trace of malicious glee. Instead, this turbulent comedy morphs into an enigmatic psychological portrait of a tortured, offended artistic soul and the eternal child in man.
by Mani Haghighi
with Hasan Majuni, Leila Hatami, Leili Rashidi, Parinaz Izadyar, Mina Jafarzadeh, Aynaz Azarhoosh, Ali Bagheri, Siamak Ansari, Ali Mosaffa
Iran 2018 Farsi 108’ Colour

With

  • Hasan Majuni (The Director: Hasan Kasmai)
  • Leila Hatami (The Actress: Shiva Mohajer)
  • Leili Rashidi (The Wife: Goli)
  • Parinaz Izadyar (The Stalker: Annie)
  • Mina Jafarzadeh (The Mother: Jeyran)
  • Aynaz Azarhoosh (The Daughter: Alma)
  • Ali Bagheri (The Policeman: Azemat)
  • Siamak Ansari (The Tennis Partner: Homayoun)
  • Ali Mosaffa (The Rival: Sohrab Saidi)

Crew

Written and Directed by Mani Haghighi
Cinematography Mahmoud Kalari
Editing Meysam Molaei
Music Peyman Yazdanian
Sound Design Amir Hossein Ghasemi
Sound Dariush Sadeghpour
Production Design Amir Hossein Ghodsi
Costumes Negar Nemati
Make-Up Mehrdad Mirkiani
Assistant Director Pantea Hosseini
Producer Mani Haghighi

Produced by

Dark Precursor Productions

Mani Haghighi

Born in Tehran, Iran in 1969, he studied philosophy and works as an actor, screenwriter and director. His feature films Kargaran mashghool-e karand (Men at Work) and Paziraie Sadeh (Modest Reception) screened in the 2006 and 2012 Forum respectively, the latter winning the 2012 NETPAC Prize at the Berlinale. Ejhdeha Vared Mishavad! (A Dragon Arrives!) was presented in the 2016 Competition.

Filmography

2001 To Stay 2003 Abadan 2006 Hamoon’s Fans; Documentary · Kargaran mashghool-e karand (Men at Work) 2008 Canaan 2012 Dariush Mehrjui: The Forty Year Report; Documentary · Paziraie sadeh (Modest Reception) 2016 Ejhdeha vared mishavad! (A Dragon Arrives!) · 50 kilo albaloo (50 Kilos of Sour Cherries) 2018 Khook (Pig)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2018