It’s a relief to watch an Asghar Farhadi film that returns to the morally complex form of his earlier films like A Separation (2011) and The Past (2013). His dip into Hollywood with Everybody Knows (2018) was a disappointment for those who love his exploration of Iranian culture.

A Hero stars Amir Jadidi (Hattrick 2018) as Rahim, a man exiting prison for a few days leave. He has a debt to a friend who guaranteed a loan that he couldn’t repay and, in Iran if the victim wants it, this can mean prison until the debt is repaid. He has two days to convince the man, Bahram (Mohsen Tanabandeh), to let him stay free, something that will rely on Bahram’s trust in his character.

Rahim’s (secret) girlfriend Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust) found a bag containing gold coins and their plan to cash it in to repay half his debt goes awry. Deciding instead to return the bag to its owner, his selfless deed is (perhaps deliberately) noticed by prison authorities and he becomes a minor celebrity for his selflessness.

And this is where the complexity begins. To uphold his story, Rahim has to lie and this leads him down a path where his character is continually questioned. There are small twist and turns in the plot but the underlying theme is about the nature of ‘good character’ and how much this depends on the amount of social power you have. We are never completely sure about Rahim and what motivates him and although this makes for a more interesting experience, it lessens our emotional engagement with him.

The last frame, split between two points of focus and held for a long time, is very powerful and perhaps tells us what we need to know about Rahim and his fate. It doesn’t have the emotional punch of his earlier films but it will leave you thinking after the credits roll.

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