Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Asghar Farhadi: Top Iranian director accused of plagiarism

Asghar Farhadi: Top Iranian director accused of plagiarism

The Oscar-winning Iranian film-maker Asghar Farhadi has been summoned to appear in court in Iran over accusations of plagiarism.

Asghar Farhadi's film, A Hero, won the Grand Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival

A former student of Farhadi, Azadeh Masihzadeh, claims he stole the idea for his latest film, A Hero, from her documentary, All Winners All Losers.

He denies this, saying that he researched the story independently.

Farhadi won Academy Awards for Best International Feature for A Separation, in 2012 and The Salesman in 2017.

A Hero won the Grand Prize at last year's Cannes Film Festival but missed out on an Oscar nomination.

The film follows Rahim, portrayed by Amir Jadidi, a divorced father of a young boy who is imprisoned in Iran because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day temporary release he is praised by the authorities and media for returning a handbag filled with gold coins to its rightful owner. However, he soon begins to come under suspicion.


In January, he told the BBC's Talking Movies programme: "It's really hard for me to try to go back and remember what the genesis was, what triggered this story. Many of these stories develop in your mind subconsciously, gradually start to take shape, and an impulse for a script grows.

"This one goes back 12, 15 years maybe, when I used to collect local newspapers and work with my students to investigate these kinds of stories."

However, Masihzadeh accused Farhadi of stealing the story from All Winners, All Losers, which she researched during a documentary workshop the director taught in 2014 and which was screened at an Iranian film festival in 2018.

Farhadi denied the allegation of plagiarism and filed a countersuit accusing Masihzadeh of defamation.

On Monday, Masihzadeh told the Hollywood Reporter that a media court in Tehran had dismissed the defamation suit, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to support Farhadi's claim.

She said she was "relieved" by the ruling but "not happy because I respected Mr Farhadi a lot as my master". "Sometimes, I think I should never have [spoken out] in the first place," she added.

The court also found that there was enough evidence to issue a summons for Farhadi to answer allegations of copyright infringement.

The director's lawyer, Kaveh Rad, wrote on Instagram that the case would now be re-examined by a criminal court and, potentially, an appeals court.

"This summons is not the court's final verdict but part of the process," he stressed.

Mr Rad also said the court had dismissed a claim from Masihzadeh for a share of film's revenues as well a defamation suit by a former prisoner who said the story was based on their life.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Reports in Gaza: 5 dead from the impact of aid packages dropped by the USA
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, instead proposing its own six-week ceasefire plan contingent upon the release of all hostages held by Hamas
Prince William Urges End to Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting
EU Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza Conflict
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
Saudi Arabia Introduces Terms for 30-Year Income Tax Exemption for Multinational Companies
Saudi FM: Establishing Palestinian state is only pathway for Mideast stability
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
Elon Musk's Starlink Gets License For Israel, Parts Of Gaza
Influencers Exploit X Platform for Profit Amidst Israel-Gaza Conflict
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
International Criminal Court's Chief "Deeply Concerned" By Rafah Bombing
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Indian female military officers commend Saudi Arabia's progress and women's empowerment
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Israel Utilizes AI Military Technology in Gaza Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
China Warns Iran to Halt Houthi Attacks or Damage Trade Ties
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Iran-backed hackers interrupt UAE TV streaming services with deepfake news
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: The Israelis underwent dehumanization on 7.10, this does not give them the right to do this to others.
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
UK Bans Misleading "Zero Emissions" Claims for Electric Cars
Gaza's Teen Inventor Sparks Light in Displacement
Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Proposal, Insists On Total Victory Over Hamas
Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel
Private Sector Employment Hits Record High with Over 11 Million Employees in January
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
ZATCA Cautions Against Scammer Schemes
INTRA Defense Technologies inaugurates drone factory in Riyadh
×