"Khook - Pig" challenges images of Iran at Berlin film festival
Director, screenwriter and producer Mani Haghighi with actors Leili Rashidi, Ali Mosaffa and Leila Hatami pose during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
BERLIN (Reuters) - A comedy depicting a movie director being protected by his family from a serial killer challenges stereotypes about Iran and Iranian women at the Berlin Film Festival, the director said on Wednesday.
"There are strong women in Iran and I chose to show them as opposed to conforming to this usual image that represents to you Iranian women as victims," Iranian director Mani Haghighi said at a news conference after a screening of "Khook - Pig".
Actress Leila Hatami poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
In the film, Hasan Kasmai, a filmmaker, starts to panic after being blacklisted and losing the actress he made a star who now wants to make a film with a rival director.
He is further eaten up with jealousy when a serial killer targeting famous filmmakers in Tehran ignores him.
He asks his mother when he will be killed and she assures him that the killer has spared the best for last - only for him to be then falsely named as the killer on social media.
Actress Leili Rashidi poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
He only has his mother, wife and daughter to protect him from being beheaded and from the online trolling.
"Khook - Pig" follows on the heels of "Taxi", by banned Iranian director Jafar Panahi, which won the Berlinale's Golden Bear for best film for its depiction of a cabbie driving people around Tehran in a condemnation of censorship.
Film directors in Iran face censorship, and even jail, if they overstep accepted norms on subjects such as sex and politics.
Actress Parinaz Izadyar poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
However, Haghighi, who plans to showing his film in Iran, said he was tired of journalists' constant questions about his political views and censorship in Iran.
"How many times do we need to hear this? Yes, there is censorship in Iran. Yes, it's difficult to live with it and yes we are dealing with it. But there is so much more to discuss," he said.
"Khook - Pig" is one of 19 films competing for the Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear, to be awarded on Feb. 24.
Actress Leila Hatami attends a news conference to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Alison Williams)
Actor Ali Mosaffa poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeActress Parinaz Izadyar attends a news conference to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeDirector, screenwriter and producer Mani Haghighi poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeDiector, screenwriter and producer Mani Haghighi with actors Leila Hatami and Hasan Majuni pose during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeActor Ali Bagheri poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeActor Hasan Majuni poses during a photocall to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeDirector, screenwriter and producer Mani Haghighi attends a news conference to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeActress Parinaz Izadyar attends a news conference to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeActress Leila Hatami attends a news conference to promote the movie Khook (Pig) at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany, February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
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