A movie from Iran won two top prizes at the 13th International Zagora Trans-Saharan Film Festival in Zagora, Morocco.
‘An Ordinary Rebellion’, the first feature film written and directed by filmmaker Hamed Rajabi was awarded the Zagora Grand Prize, and the prize for the best female role went to actress Negar Javaherian, at the closing ceremony on Sunday, December 25, ISNA reported.
The film was unanimously approved by the jury. “It was not really easy to decide between the ten feature films. We were facing a pretty good selection. But we did our best to be as correct as possible,” said researcher and novelist Abdelkader Chaou, the jury president of the official competition.
The film testifies to the evolution of contemporary cinema in Iran. The story is very touching. Nahal, 30 years, is four months pregnant. She learns that her fetus is dead and she has only two days to receive the necessary medical care. This news plunges her into an attitude of rebellion towards her family, her acquaintances and the society.
The movie debuted at the Panorama section of Berlin International Film Festival in Germany, 2015, under the title ‘A Minor Leap Down’ and won the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award.
At its showing in Berlin, the movie collected rave reviews by foreign critics who appreciated the director’s story-telling as well as the lead actress’s strong performance. It continued attending in over 10 international events including the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival, China, 2015; 51st Pesaro International Film Festival, Italy, 2015; 2nd Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, Australia, 2015; and Hamarama Film Festival, Norway, 2016, among others.
