Asghar Farhadi presents ‘Parallel Tales’ at Festival do Rio

Two-time Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi is in Rio de Janeiro to present his tenth feature film, ‘Parallel Tales’ (Histoires Parallèles), as part of the Festival do Rio 2026. The film, which was previously showcased at the Cannes Film Festival, features an ensemble cast including Isabelle Huppert, Vincent Cassel, Virginie Efira, Pierre Niney, and Adam Bessa.

Inspired by the cinematic universe of Krzysztof Kieślowski, specifically his ‘Dekalog’ series, the film explores themes of voyeurism and the blurred lines between fiction and reality. The plot follows Sylvie, a writer in crisis, who observes neighbors in a building across from her apartment to find inspiration for a novel. The dynamic shifts when she hires an assistant named Adam, leading to a dissolution of boundaries between observation, desire, and experience.

During his visit, Farhadi has participated in special screenings and public activities, including an open class at Armazém da Utopia. The director has discussed his connection to Iranian realism and how his work maintains Iranian identity even when filmed outside of his home country.