Khook

«Pig» is one of the funniest comedies I have seen in a long time, a very clever mix of satire, fantasy and social commentary, with strong roots in Iranian culture, while never losing sight of the entertainment value and cinematic craftsmanship. Above all, it is a scathing criticism of the world population's dependence on social media, especially the most brazen ones (Instagram, Twitter), to which many persons go to provide and read comments that build their social "reality": it gives them identity, it gives them "the truth", based on false facts, fake news, and contents of few words, few ideas and little depth.

Hasan Kasmai (in a formidable interpretation by Hassan Madjooni, who won the Best Actor award at Sitges) is an A filmmaker who is censored for reasons never exposed, suddenly loses his muse to a new director, and feels that he is losing his distinction in the Iranian film industry, which is more stress than anything. At the same time, Iranian filmmakers are being exterminated by a serial killer who decapitates them and engraves (with an x-act) the word "pig" on their foreheads. As Hasan says, the murdered directors are lame, but when two famous people who are close to him are beheaded, he begins to feel that the killer has not come to murder him because his glory has already passed. And to make things more delirious, an aspiring actress harasses him and uploads images to Instagram, that show features of Hasan that he would have preferred to keep for himself.

What I describe is one thing and what is seen on the screen is another, moments that range from the comic to the sublime, from fantasy to drama, including a ballet of models dressed as red cockroaches for a pesticide commercial that Hasan directs, a police chief who invites him to eat melon while interrogating him, a rock number that Hasan (fan of Black Sabbath and AC/DC) sings accompanied by a band of women in the costumes of the red cockroaches, a sumptuous party, the shooting of an epic film that is a mix between Pasolini and Oliver Stone, Hasan's mother armed with an old rifle and determined to protect her son, plus an influencer who declares the war on Hasan, accusing him of murder.

If you (like me before this) have never seen an Iranian comedy and associate Iranian cinema with Kiarostami, films of children sharing slippers or flying kites, this is a big surprise, and to be fair, a wonderful surprise. Watch it. You will enjoy it and it will also make you think.

One of the other reviewers seems to think the director starred in the film as the main actor, and spells the director's name wrong the entire time. It prompted me to log in and review this film from the perspective of someone who actually knows Iranian cinema.

It's refreshing and funny in a way that few internationally notable Iranian films are. The movie is centered around Hasan, a movie director trying to adjust to a new reality as his fame declines while banned from working. Meanwhile, a serial killer is targeting notable film directors and beheading them, carving the word "pig" onto their foreheads. Hasan is an overgrown mama's boy and deals with his increasing irrelevancy poorly, finding himself wishing he could be the target of this serial killer so he can feel important again.

The film speaks volumes about the current role of social media in Iran and the impact it has had on culture. Justice, common opinion, even fact is decided by a society which now lives online and is obsessed with false idols.

There are comedic and tense moments throughout the film, and you find yourself both rooting for and against the protagonist. I would definitely recommend this film to someone just barely getting into Iranian cinema. Definitely a good film to help dip your toes in.

Storyline was attractive ,and i can't stop movie till end.I enjoy it and i think most of the people would enjoy this movie. . It's too hard for Iranian movies to become popular unless they has been created by Asqhar Farhady 😕.So I wanna too use this opportunity and advertise them.Iran's cinema is not strong ,but we can find more than three good movie from each year,so watch Iranian movie too and describe them with some normal Hollywood movies in same genre and same year .😐

While the script is amazing, the mighty acting of Hassan Majouni as the leading role is shining in almost every moment of the movie. And you barely see such good performance from Siamak Ansari (Hope he takes it as a compliment!) If you are familiar with post-revolution Iran's history, you may be able to relate the scenario with some infamous events.

Hey, just want to note my idea here, This movie refers to an important effect, about viral videos, tweeter #, ... in few words, "the people whom are not famous in real life, but they have too many people as viewers at social networks". These people sometimes make troubles, show small events like disasters, it is really very nice idea for screenplay. Vow awesome if comedy... Like few other films which made before, for example "the circle 2017" but it was not comedy... But Dear mani, i hope you success in your life, in writing, in directing. You have very good movies, which i was interested. Here it was not good, in cinema, viewers hardly sit and watch. We laughed. We screamed. But there is something in our mind which says "it is bad". Sorry but it is what i think. We are real people, we need to believe the screenplay, we need to live with the roles, we are viewers, unfortunately we failed. There were very good actors/actresses. But final result is not good. Best wishes...