Iranian actor Hossein Mahjoub has acted in the movie 'Khibula' directed by the acclaimed Georgian filmmaker George Ovashvili.
A 2016 production of Georgia, France and Germany, the film will soon start its international screenings, Mizanonline reported.
'Khibula' follows the first president of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, in the final chapter of his life. Elected in 1991, he was soon forced by a coup d'état to choose exile and although he returned, political clashes forced him into exile again. The film follows him in the Georgian mountains, accompanied and pursued by both friend and foe. The circumstances of his death are still unclear.
"Ovashvili sent the script to me and I liked the story and agreed to play in the film," Mahjoub said.
He plays the role of Gamsakhurdia in the movie. The other actors are all Georgian. All the cast including Mahjoub speak Georgian in the film.
According to the director, 'Khibula' tells a visual story of sacrifice, betrayal, power and decline. The story is not in any way an attempt to tell the true story of Gamsakhurdia's mysterious death. "I want to record a man's final journey as if I am part of the guilty Caucasian landscape that looks on passively as a once powerful man meets his fate".
Ovashvili made 'The Other Bank' in 2009. But he was globally known by 'Corn Island' (2015) which was nominated for the best Foreign Language Film Award at the 2016 Oscars last year.
Mahjoub's first screen credit was a role in the 1971 movie 'Downpour' by Bahram Beizai. So far, he has starred in many movies and TV series. He was awarded as best supporting actor for his role in Majidi's 'Color of Paradise' at the 17th Fajr International Film Festival in 1998.
