DAS VERGANGENE

After years in Tehran, Ahmad (Ali Mosaffa) returns to Paris to finalise his divorce from his French wife Marie (Bérénice Bejo). Marie is now living with Samir (Tahar Rahim) and is expecting a child by him; Samir’s wife Céline lies in a coma after a suicide attempt. Ahmad is asked to mediate between Marie and her daughter Lucie, who resists the new relationship – and step by step uncovers what led up to the suicide attempt. “Das Vergangene” (Le Passé), shot in France in 2013, is the first French-language film by the Iranian director Asghar Farhadi.

Farhadi builds the story as a chamber piece, in which each revelation shifts the last and blame migrates from one character to the next. The film screened in competition at Cannes in 2013; Bérénice Bejo won the award for best actress, and the film also received the Ecumenical Jury Prize. “Das Vergangene” was shown at Around the World in 14 Films in Berlin in 2013 in the Opening Night section.

Shown at the 2013 edition of Around the World in 14 Films.

All films 2013 · Film Archive