German-Iranian director Faraz Shariat’s gorgeously mould-breaking debut announces itself with all the endearing energy and erotic chemistry of a Xavier Dolan film.
Loosely based on the director’s youthful rebellion (although co-written with Paulina Lorenz), it casts an angular-cheeked and bleached blond Benny Radjaipour as Parvis. Born and raised in northern German city Hildesheim, he’s at ease with his rampant sexuality, but less so with the Iranian identity inherited from his supermarket-owning immigrant parents who pine for the life they left behind in Tehran. When a shoplifting spree lands Parvis with 150 hours of community service, he gets assigned as a less-than-fluent Farsi-speaking translator at the local refugee centre. That’s where he sets eyes on a quietly brooding Amon (Eidin Jalali) and his effervescent sister Banafshe (Banafshe Hourmazdi). Falling for the former even as he continues his in da clerb and hook-up app adventures, he also forges a firm BFF bond with the latter.
Available in the UK on VOD Dec 7.
