Rahim is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum but things don’t go as planned.
“A Hero” is a harrowing tale of a man, Rahim (Amir Jadidi), who during his leave from prison for a large debt owed, tries to find a way to pay it back. Unfortunately, his life spirals even more out of control when everything seems to go wrong even when trying to do the right thing. This film delves into the philosophical questions of intent, goodwill, and social responsibility as Rahim traverses a path riddled with obstacles and a crisis of self-worth. Director Asghar Farhadi pulls powerful and emotional performances from his entire cast and it’s especially evident in Amir Jadidi’s portrayal of the main character, Rahim. Together all these aspects of the story make for another complicated and thought-provoking film.
Rahim’s downfall stems from his pursuit of money to repay his debt, which is also ground zero for all the controversy and bad luck that ensues. During Rahim’s leave from prison, his girlfriend shows him a sack of gold coins she found at a bus stop. They attempt to pawn the coins but with the fluctuating rate of gold, the amount they’d receive would no longer cover Rahim’s debt. Instead, they decide to find the owner of the lost gold. A woman comes forward who had been saving and hiding the gold from her husband to protect her children. After a warm thank you, the woman returns home with her gold.
Here is where the controversy starts. Without spoiling the rest of the film, the question is brought up: Was what Rahim did, returning the gold, an act of goodwill, guilt, or convenience? As news spreads across the city about Rahim’s good deed, he’s greeted with both sides of the argument. On one hand, his admirers grow and petition that his good deed should suffice for his debt owed. On the other hand, it’s pointed out that he only returned the money after he decided not to pawn it. Leaving the question as to why should we reward someone for doing what is the right thing to do in the first place, and should we reward them when their intent was tainted with selfishness?
The more people dive into Rahim’s story the more it unravels and holes begin to appear throughout. These questions not only ruin the newfound belief placed in Rahim but also make him question his own character. He may not be a bad guy but he’s also no saint. Then again, who in the world is truly one or the other? As the chaos in his life grows, so does his desperation and his inability to control the narrative of the situation.
The true genius of the film is its loyalty to the realism of life, revealing some hard truths many people must face when their survival hangs in the balance. Rahim’s journey, despite not being a prime paragon, still evokes sympathy for his circumstances. How many people in the world would not take the opportunity to buy their freedom with something they found on the street? Not stolen and not immediately recognized to be lost by anyone in the vicinity would make someone feel like their luck just changed for the better. Farhadi recognizes these complicated truths and fully leans into them without bias. He allows the story to unfold and lets the audience determine their own opinion of what transpires. A definite front-runner for the Oscars, and an all-around good film. Farhadi continues to set new bars for foreign films in telling his brand of deeply philosophical stories.
In Theaters Friday, January 7th, and on Prime Video Friday, January 21st
