Asghar Farhadi Discusses Imagination and Reality in New Film 'Parallel Stories' at Cannes

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi returns to the Cannes Film Festival competition with his new film, 'Parallel Stories,' a free adaptation of an episode from Krzysztof Kieslowski's 'Decalogue.' Co-produced by Belgium and filmed in France, the project marks Farhadi's first French-directed feature since 'The Past' thirteen years ago. In an interview with Le Soir, Farhadi explores the philosophical core of his work, asserting that imagination is a crucial tool for human survival against the ephemeral nature of life. He discusses the film's central theme that reality is constructed through mediation and storytelling, rather than existing as an objective truth. Farhadi also expresses concern regarding the rise of artificial intelligence, fearing it leads to a standardization of thought and a loss of individual human perspective. The article highlights the director's reflections on how cinema manipulates reality, drawing parallels to the techniques used in Iranian cinema to navigate censorship, while celebrating the collaborative effort of his international team including stars Isabelle Huppert and Vincent Cassel.