The Past (2013) - dir. Asghar Farhadi
Zero mistakes. That’s what’s expected of Asghar Farhadi, the man behind 2011’s meticulously crafted and flawless A Separation. With an international debut film so strong and powerful, the stakes were incredibly high. Coming off of the resounding success he had at Cannes, Farhadi walked across the stage of the Elgin theater on the opening night of TIFF and introduced the film.
He spoke, in Persian, but in a soft and succinct manor. He thanked all of the Arabic people for showing up and supporting art, he thanked the producers, the hosts, and the rest of the audience. Without raising his voice he left the stage as cool as a cucumber, directly after the film began. The film, although nary a line was spoken as hushed as Farhadi was himself, was just as professional, just as calculated. Another distinct success from one of the best international filmmakers alive today. Zero mistakes.
8.7