Motståndaren

English below

I to år har den tidligere proffbryteren Iman, kona Maryam og deres to døtre bodd på et asylmottak nord i Sverige. Et rykte sendte dem på flukt fra Iran, der Iman hevder han ble forfulgt på politisk grunnlag. Fremmedgjort i et samfunn som føles like kaldt som vinteren utenfor lengter alle fire hjem, men for Iman føles det ikke som en mulighet. I håp om å forbedre sjansene for å få oppholdstillatelse går han mot Maryams ønsker og melder seg inn i en bryteklubb. Det tar ikke lang tid før han presterer på toppnivå, men så begynner rykter igjen å sirkulere rundt ham, og usikkerheten slår rot.

Regissør Milad Alami kom selv til Sverige som asylsøker da han var seks år gammel, og erfaringene hans kommer tydelig frem her. Motstanderen er en relevant og sterk film som balanserer samfunnskritikk med dypt personlig drama, løftet av imponerende skuespill.

A Separation star Payman Maadi gives another riveting, on-edge performance in this promise-fulfilling second feature from Swedish-Iranian helmer Milad Alami.

- Guy Lodge, Variety -

Milad Alami (f. 1982) er en svensk-iransk regissør og manusforfatter. Hans spillefilmdebut Charmøren (2017) mottok flere priser og nominasjoner ved internasjonale filmfestivaler, og han mottok Silver Hugo-prisen for nye regissører ved filmfestivalen i Chicago for den. Han har også regissert fem episoder av TV-serien Når støvet har lagt sig (2020).

Golden Bear winner Payman Maadi delivers a strong performance in Milad Alamis's most recent film, starring as a restless Iranian wrestler attempting to keep his family together as they seek permission to stay in Sweden.

For the last two years, ex-wrestler Iman, his wife Maryam, and their two daughters have been living at an asylum reception center in northern Sweden. A rumor sent them fleeing from Iran, where Iman claims that he is targeted based on his politics. Alienated in a society that seems as cold as the winter outside, all four miss their home, but for Iman, returning seems impossible. Hoping to better their chances of getting residence permits, Iman goes against Maryam's wishes and joins a Swedish wrestling club. Before long, he is once again performing at a professional level, but then rumors begin to spread, and uncertainty takes root.

Director Milad Alami came to Sweden seeking asylum at six years old, and his experiences are certainly part of this film. Opponent is a relevant and potent film that balances its social criticisms with a deeply personal brand of drama, heightened by impressive acting.

A Separation star Payman Maadi gives another riveting, on-edge performance in this promise-fulfilling second feature from Swedish-Iranian helmer Milad Alami.

- Guy Lodge, Variety -

Milad Alami (b. 1982) is a Swedish-Iranian director and writer. His feature debut, The Charmer (2017), received several nominations and awards at international film festivals, earning him the Silver Hugo Award for new directors at the Chicago International Film Festival. Additionally, he has directed five episodes of the TV series When the Dust Settles (2020).