Iranian director Ali Asgari has no desire to repeat clichés about great expectations for things to come. But I do believe in these small specks of light. For now, let’s just stick to them so that we can take the next step.” Talking to Variety after the premiere of his sixth feature “A Bit of Light,” Asgari – also behind “Disappearance,” “Terrestrial Verses” and “Divine Comedy” – said he wanted to “celebrate simple things.” “Right now, especially in my country, we are forgetting about them.
We’re forgetting about our families and helping others. We are surrounded by disaster every day, all the time, always expecting something horrible to happen,” he says. We’re all living in a dangerous world right now.
If after watching this film someone goes to their mother and takes her hand, that’s enough.” Family is certainly on the mind of his protagonist, a kind doctor (played by Misagh Zareh) who becomes disillusioned after his arrest. With his medical practice shut down, he’s ready to end his life. He’s a practical man, though, so he decides to tell his family and make suitable arrangements.
They faced so much death and saw so many injured. We couldn’t even talk about it,” he notes. In January, after weeks of protests, the authorities opened fire on demonstrators.
It had affected so many people’s lives. This man still feels connected to his family, and he knows he has to prepare them for what he wants to do. That’s just the way he is.” “Usually, when we think about sadness or depression, we think of very expressive acting or directing.
I took a simpler approach. I told [Misagh]: ‘I only want to see it in your eyes and on your face’.” Asgari, who got to show the film in Venice’s main competition, thought a lot about Italian filmmakers. I’ve been inspired a lot by Italian neorealism and people like [screenwriter] Cesare Zavattini.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
