Asghar Farhadi Returns to Cannes with New Film
Award-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi has once again made his mark at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, he returned to the French Riviera with a new film titled Parallel Tales, which received a standing ovation lasting more than five minutes. While this is an impressive feat, it pales in comparison to the acclaim he has previously received at the festival.
Farhadi’s earlier film The Salesman won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay, and his 2021 film A Hero was awarded the festival’s Grand Prix. Both The Salesman (2016) and A Separation (2011) went on to win the Oscar for Best International Feature, a rare achievement for any filmmaker.
While a standing ovation is a significant honor, the length of the applause and appreciation may hint at something else. Some reports suggest that Parallel Tales received a decent standing ovation, but not one that was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film earned a five-minute standing oviation, while other outlets like Deadline reported a nearly seven-minute ovation.
A Slow-Paced Storytelling Approach
Despite the varied accounts of the ovation, David Rooney noted in his review that the film’s slow-paced storytelling may have left some viewers feeling drained. The movie runs for two hours and 20 minutes and explores themes of voyeurism through the character of Sylvie, an author who spies on her neighbors and creates a fictional love triangle for inspiration. Her life changes when she hires an assistant.
This is Farhadi’s second French-language drama film and is inspired by Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Dekalog: Six. The film also features a star-studded cast, including Isabelle Huppert as Sylvie and Virginie Efira as Anna/Nita. Catherine Deneuve, India Hair, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, and Adam Bessa are also part of the ensemble cast.
Other Films That Received Standing Ovations
In addition to Parallel Tales, several other films from the Cannes line-up also received standing ovations. Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland received a six-minute standing ovation at the festival. The movie follows writer Thomas Mann and his daughter Erika as they travel across Germany. Speaking about the ovation, the director hoped that the audience connected with the movie.
“I hope at least fifty percent of you really meant it,” Pawlikowski said.
Another film from the same distributor, Mubi, also received a nine-minute standing ovation. Teenage S and D** at Camp Miasma premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. These are just some of the many films being shown, with many more expected to make history at the event.
Other Notable Highlights
Other notable films at the festival include Fast & Furious 25th Anniversary at Cannes, where Jordana Brewster spoke about keeping Paul Walker’s memory alive in Fast Forever. Demi Moore also made headlines at the festival, urging the industry to embrace AI rather than fight it. Meanwhile, Peter Jackson’s children were in the spotlight as the director’s kids made appearances at Cannes 2026.
In addition, the Korean zombie thriller Colony, directed by the creator of Train To Busan, made its debut at the festival. Another intriguing film, an American movie set in Queens, has been highlighted as a potential contender for the 2026 Cannes awards.
