Film
Opponent (15)
Dir. Milad Alami, Sweden, 2023, 119 mins, in Swedish with English subtitles. Cast. Payman Maadi, Amirali Abanzad, Ahmed Abdullahi.
Writer-director Milad Alami’s accomplished second feature weaves an emotional domestic drama around a wrestler torn between family and suppressed desires.
In the aftermath of a devastating rumour, Iman and his family have been forced to flee Iran. As refugees, they end up in a run-down hotel in northern Sweden. Despite feeling powerless, Iman tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch. To increase their chances of asylum, he breaks a promise to his wife and joins the local wrestling club. As the rumours start to resurface, Iman’s fear and desperation begin to take a hold. This meticulously rendered drama reveals how complex social dynamics can affect an individual’s inner self, with the refugee crisis as a searing backdrop to a story about masculinity and family values.
★★★★ “An outstanding lead performance from Payman Maadi lies at the heart of this powerful, slow-burning drama” Total Film
For detailed information about the film's age rating and content notices, you can visit the BBFC website and search the film title, then scroll down to the “Content Advice” section: www.bbfc.co.uk
Writer-director Milad Alami’s accomplished second feature weaves an emotional domestic drama around a wrestler torn between family and suppressed desires.
In the aftermath of a devastating rumour, Iman and his family have been forced to flee Iran. As refugees, they end up in a run-down hotel in northern Sweden. Despite feeling powerless, Iman tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch. To increase their chances of asylum, he breaks a promise to his wife and joins the local wrestling club. As the rumours start to resurface, Iman’s fear and desperation begin to take a hold. This meticulously rendered drama reveals how complex social dynamics can affect an individual’s inner self, with the refugee crisis as a searing backdrop to a story about masculinity and family values.
★★★★ “An outstanding lead performance from Payman Maadi lies at the heart of this powerful, slow-burning drama” Total Film
For detailed information about the film's age rating and content notices, you can visit the BBFC website and search the film title, then scroll down to the “Content Advice” section: www.bbfc.co.uk
