Iconic Iranian actor Homayoun Ershadi passed away at the age of 78. The news was announced by IRNA (via Deadline) that the actor died on November 11 after a battle with cancer.
The actor was known for several iconic movies and roles and was also nominated for four awards (including two for We’re All Sinners, one for Utopia, and The Kite Runner each) throughout his varied Hollywood career. Debuting in 1997 with Taste of Cherry to working alongside Kathryn Bigelow in Zero Dark Thirty, here are the 5 best movies of the Iranian legend that you must watch.
5. The Pear Tree – 1998
Released in 1997 at the Cannes Film Festival, The Pear Tree marked Homayoun Ershadi’s big-screen debut. Suffering from writer’s block, Mahmoud (Homayoun Ershadi) visits his family’s estate in Northern Tehran in hopes of finishing his book.
Sitting under a pear tree, Mahmoud contemplates his past, his love, and his adolescent life. The film works as an introspection for Mahmoud and is a deep dive into what love is supposed to be.
4. Zero Dark Thirty – 2012
In 2012, Homayoun Ershadi starred in the role of Hassan Ghul, a terrorist held by the CIA in the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Ghul was reported to have told the CIA about Bin Laden’s messenger, which eventually led to Operation Neptune Spear.
While his screen time is limited, his character provides a significant piece of information that kickstarts the whole thing in one of Kathryn Bigelow’s iconic movies.
3. A Most Wanted Man – 2014
A slow-burning thriller released in 2014, A Most Wanted Man is a star-studded film where Homayoun Ershadi portrayed the role of Dr. Faisal Abdullah. Working alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman, Willem Dafoe, Rachel McAdams, and more, Homayoun Ershadi had a prominent role in the film.
The film’s plot centers around post 9/11 tension in Germany (where the hijackers had planned their attack) and follows the CIA, the European agencies, and more, wanting to capture Dr. Faisal Abdullah (Homayoun Ershadi) on the doubts that he was funding Al-Qaeda.
The film is a slow-burning, tense flick that received worldwide acclaim after its release. Suffice it to say that Homayoun Ershadi shines in the role of Abdullah.
2. The Kite Runner – 2007
Perhaps his most popular role of all time, The Kite Runner brought Homayoun Ershadi worldwide fame and critical acclaim. Based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, Ershadi portrays the role of Baba, the father of the protagonist Amir.
Portraying a flawed character, Baba’s secret and his lifelong guilt are some of the factors that influence Amir’s actions as the story progresses. With the story running from the fall of the monarchy in Afghanistan to the mass exodus of Afghan refugees from the country, The Kite Runner is quite a beautifully told story, set against the backdrop of a country going through tumultuous times.
1. Taste of Cherry – 1997
Lastly, the film that made Homayoun Ershadi and director Abbas Kiarostami famous. Taste of Cherry is a 1997 film that deals with Ghobadii, a middle-aged man driving through the city in hopes of finding an assistant.
Offering large sums of money, he tells people that he is committing suicide and he needs someone to put dirt over him in case he dies, or help him up in case he decides to live. Although it is never revealed why he wants to commit suicide, the film gives a quiet message of hope, resilience, and finding the light in the darkest of times.
The film is a minimalist Iranian film with long, drawn-out shots and monologues. However, the film won the prestigious Palme d’Or award (via IMDb) at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival.
Have you seen of the 5 gems from our list? Let us know in the comments below.
