TEHRAN – The Iranian movies “World War III” and “See You Friday, Robinson” will be screened at the 4th Hainan Island International Film Festival.

The festival will open on Sunday on the Chinese island, screening dozens of movies from across the world. 

In “World War III”, director Hooman Seyyedi depicts Shakib, a homeless day laborer who never got over the loss of his wife and son in an earthquake years ago.

Over the last couple of years, he has developed a relationship with a deaf and mute woman, Ladan. The construction site on which he works today turns out to be the set for a film about the atrocities committed by Hitler during WWII. Against all odds, he is given a movie role, a house and a chance at being somebody. When Ladan learns about this, she comes to his workplace begging for help. Shakib’s scheme to hide her goes tragically wrong and threatens to ruin his newfound status and what seemed to be the opportunity of a lifetime.

The acclaimed dark comedy is Iran’s submission to the international feature award at the 2023 Oscars.

The film premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, winning the Orizzonti Award for best film, and the best actor award for Mohsen Tanabandeh.

It also received special jury prizes at the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival and Los Angeles Asian World Film Festival (AWFF). The AWFF also picked Tanabandeh as best actor.

As a co-production from France, Switzerland, Iran and Lebanon, “See You Friday, Robinson” will be showcased in the documentary competition.

Directed by Mitra Farahani, the film provides an affectionate depiction of an encounter between the breathless titans, Jean-Luc Godard and Iranian filmmaker and literary figure Ebrahim Golestan. They engage in long-distance exchanges of quotations and cryptic statements. Their dialogue, which should have taken place long ago in the last century, inevitably consists of weighty themes, such as humanity, time, art and death.  

The festival is hosted by the China Media Group, dedicated to accelerating and promoting cross-cultural exchanges and collaboration, establishing close connections between international filmmakers and industries.

Photo: “World War III” directed by Hooman Seyyedi.

MMS/YAW