Pari

When Iranian Pari and her older, strictly religious husband arrive in Athens to visit their grown-up son, he fails to pick up his parents from the airport as promised. He is not to be found at the address they have for him, either. The two set out in search of their son but soon find themselves in the midst of a city in political turmoil, where their paths are blocked by street fighting and burning barricades. Since her husband does not speak a word of English, this traditional Muslim wife now slips into a new role. As she pursues her never-ending, desperate search for her son with increasing independence, she forges unexpected alliances with strangers and musters the kind of strength she never knew she possessed.
While the streets fill with smoke, obscuring the view for passers-by and demonstrators alike, Pari’s own view becomes clearer and clearer. Siamak Etemadi’s first feature-length film is an intense portrait of the city and its people of different cultures; a tale of emancipation and the awakening of a political consciousness that reminds us that it is never too late to find the courage that lies within oneself.
by Siamak Etemadi
with Melika Foroutan, Shahbaz Noshir, Sofia Kokkali, Lena Kitsopoulou, Argyris Padazaras, Dimitris Xanthopoulos
Greece / France / Netherlands / Bulgaria 2020 Farsi, English, Greek 101’ Colour World premiere

With

  • Melika Foroutan (Pari)
  • Shahbaz Noshir (Farrokh)
  • Sofia Kokkali (Zoe)
  • Lena Kitsopoulou (Nawal)
  • Argyris Padazaras (Anarchist)
  • Dimitris Xanthopoulos (Sailor)

Crew

Written and Directed by Siamak Etemadi
Cinematography Claudio Bolivar
Editing Panos Voutsaras
Music Avia
Sound Boris Trayanov, Vincent Sinceretti, Jan Schermer
Production Design Wilbert van Dorp
Costumes Mayou Trikerioti
Make-Up Valentin Valov
Assistant Director Miltos Ntzounis
Casting Makis Gazis
Production Manager Kostas Sfakianakis
Producers Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Giorgos Karnavas
Co-Producers Gabrielle Dumon, Frans van Gestel, Laurette Schillings, Arnold Heslenfeld, Boris Chouchkov, Victor Couchkov Jr., Dan Wechsler, Jamal Zeinal Zade, Dimitris Kontovrakis
Co-Production Le Bureau Paris
TopKapi Films Amsterdam
The Chouchkov Brothers Sofia
Bord Cadre Films Genf
Biokon Athen

Siamak Etemadi

Born in Tehran, Iran, he moved to Athens in 1995 where he lives to this day as a dual Iranian-Greek national. After studying film in Athens, he first worked as an assistant director on numerous films, TV and documentary series while also making occasional appearances as an actor in both film and theatre. His short film Cavo d’oro premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, was nominated for Best Short Film at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and and was theatrically released in Greek cinemas. Pari is his debut feature film.

Filmography

2001 Vignette; short film 2003 Paramithas; short film 2012 Cavo d’oro; short film 2020 Pari; Panorama

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020