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Back to list The President

Director’s Profile

Mohsen Makhmalbaf was born in 1957, in Tehran. Fighting for democracy, he faced imprisonment at the age of seventeen and spent nearly five years behind bars. After his release, he continued his struggle in search of democracy and equality through his activities in literature and film. He is the writer of 30 literary and story books and has directed 30 feature, short and documentary films in ten different countries. He has received over 50 reputable international awards from prestigious film festivals across the world, including Cannes, Venice, Locarno, and others. He has been granted two honorary doctorates in cinema and literature for his eminent works. Over the years his films have appeared several times on lists of the top one hundred films in the history of cinema, compiled by critics and experts in the industry from around the globe. Besides working in film and literature, he continues as a human rights activist in Iran and Afghanistan. Further information and a full list of his works can be found at www.makhmalbaf.com

Synopsis

The President of an unspecified country, aware of an upcoming revolution, leaves his palace under escort, to take his family to the airport. He wants to send them to a safe country until the situation calms and they may return. On the way to the airport, a crowd of his supporters, carrying the President’s photos, wave their hands and express their goodwill towards him. In the airport, a military ceremony is held for the President and his family. The President’s family flies to another country on a private airplane. When the President heads back to his palace, the situation has changed. The army, in support of the people, has carried out a coup. Tanks are all around the city and the people are now openly burning the president’s image. The President is shocked. His car is attacked. The President escapes with his driver and one of his injured guards. In the car, the injured guard dies in his arms; his blood drenching the President’s clothes. On the car-radio a voice is heard saying that the President has run away, and there is a reward for his head. During his escape, the President finds himself in near death situations more than once, loses his driver, but still somehow manages to survive. On his journey, he witnesses the terrible conditions in the country under his dictatorship. Finally, he gets close to the border where he can escape to safety, but at the very last minute the people of a nearby village capture him. Now his destiny is in the hands of the poor abandoned people of his country, who must decide between killing him and setting him free.

Achievements

2014 Busan International Film Festival - Gala Presentation
2014 Venice International Film Festival - Orizzonti Opening
2014 Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
2014 Tokyo FILMeX Festival
2014 Chicago International Film Festival
2014 London Film Festival
2014 Talinn Black Nights Film Festival
2014 Belgrade Film Festival
2014 Beirut International Film Festival
2014 Warsaw Film Festival
2015 Hong Kong International Film Festival
2015 Istanbul Film Festival
2015 Skopje Film Festival
2015 Munich International Film Festival
2015 Galway Film Fleadh
2015 Jerusalem Film Festival

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