News

A family is a careful and often fragile ecosystem. Some can withstand strong winds, while others crumble under the slightest of breezes. In Babak Khajehpasha’s “In the Arms of the Tree,” a couple who have been together for more than a decade have to grapple with what their decision to divorce will do, not just to their lives but to the well-knit world their two young sons have created for one another. A modest proposal that examines an isolated family in rural Iran, Khajehpasha’s feature nevertheless brims with heartfelt authenticity.

Kimia and Farid (Maral Baniadam and Javad Ghamati) have decided to call it quits. The two already lead quite independent lives, splitting their time between the various businesses they’ve come to own in the years they’ve been married. What still binds them, though, are their two young children: Taha and Alisan (Ahoura Lotfi and Rayan Lotfi...

Iran has selected In the Arms of the Tree as its candidate for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards.

Iran’s Farabi Cinema Foundation made the announcement this morning. Irna, the country’s English-language news service, said the pick was made after “a 10-day review process.”

Irna said a “nine-member selection committee” picked the film from a final selection process that included two other finalists. Those films Isatis, directed by Alireza Dehghan, and The Silent City, directed by Ahmad Bahrami.

Directed by Babak Lotfi Khajepasha, In the Arms of the Tree screened at the Shanghai International TV Festival and the Fajr Film Festival. The film’s official synopsis reads: In the Arms of the Tree follows the complex life crisis of Kimia and Farid, who have been married for twelve years and destroy the beautiful world of their children, children who know nothing but simplicity and kindness in life.

At the start of Season 2, Part 1 of Tanaav we meet yet another person going after Kabir, besides Junaid—Al Danisq whose real identity is Farid Mir, Mir Sir’s elder son. This is the same Mir Sir who was killed in the previous season. Now, he’s back from Syria, where he was trained as a militant to avenge his father’s death, and he uses the forever battle for Kashmir as a cover for his personal vendetta. He’s even recruited youngsters to join his cause, who were driven by both the so-called “Azadi” of Kashmir and to avenge Umar Riyaz, aka Panther. Kabir had already started to deal with Junaid, and realized that to reach Al Danisq, he must first get to Junaid, who is now under heavy surveillance. Kabir is aware that Al Danisq is the mastermind behind several deadly incidents like the attack on his father.

I’ve become quite a fan of mafia-style series like Farzi, Mirzapur, and Paatal Lok—they always seem to grab my attention. So, naturally, when I started watching Murshid, especially with Kay Kay Menon in the lead, I had high hopes. But to be honest, it felt repetitive and pretty mediocre. Anyway, to give you an idea, “Murshid” revolves around a mafia boss of the same name. He had left his life of violence after his older son’s death but had to pick up a gun again to save his younger son. As he became powerful once more, he grew even more influential in the end. The question is, what really happened to push Murshid back into this life? And who were the key characters that influenced his return to power? Let’s break it down in this cast and character guide of Murshid season 1.

Spoilers Ahead

Murshid

Kay...

Kay Kay Menon is back with another rebellious performance in the new Zee5 Global series Murshid, where he plays the part of the eponymous feared and notorious mafia don. Known as the “King of Mumbai,” Murshid ruled the city’s underworld for 20 years. He was a figure everyone feared yet couldn’t ignore. But after the tragic death of his elder son, Murshid made a life-changing decision – he put down his gun for good. He swore to leave behind his ways and promised never to turn to violence again. Instead, he took all the wealth he had accumulated and gave it away to the people of Mumbai. He helped the poor, the downtrodden, and the sick. Even though he walked away from his dangerous past, people still remember him. They still fear him, but there’s a deep respect for what he did for them. But, as life plays tricks on him,...

Stars: Aston McAuley, Sophie Simnett, Jason Flemyng, Johanna Harlin, Raza Jaffrey, Shervin Alenabi | Written by Ben Sztajnkrycer | Directed by Renny Harlin

Renny Harlin’s career has come full circle, from low-budget horror and action films like Born American and Prison through blockbusters such as Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger before reverting back to budget-minded films like The Bricklayer and this film, Refuge. This time around, he’s bringing the horrors of war back home as a soldier’s encounter with the unexplained threatens the lives of everyone around him.

Sergeant Rick Pedroni is serving somewhere in Afghanistan when his unit takes a group of Taliban prisoner. Questioned about a nearby cave, they say there’s no more of them in there, in fact, none of them would go in there. Rick volunteers to check it out.

This sets off a long flashback to he and Kate’s wedding day. By...

Stuck in between a negligent grieving mother and an abusive gang leader, Dogge never really reached a place where he could even look for better things. Saying he didn’t have much of a choice wouldn’t be wrong, as his father’s untimely death only made things worse for him. It’s about time to discuss the actions of Dogge in Netflix’s latest Swedish thriller, Deliver Me.

Spoilers Ahead

How does Dogge become an addict?

Dogge and Billy first get their hands on drugs when Mehdi appoints them to sell the stuff. Dogge couldn’t resist the allure of the magic pouches of drugs he was selling. We see Dogge regularly take drugs from the same waist bag he sells the stuff from. He can’t even sleep without drugs. When he gets out of juvenile detention and finds cocaine on the table, he instantly snorts it up.

Burdened with the responsibility of raising four kids all by herself, Leila comes a long way after losing her eldest son, Billy. Being the only major female character in Netflix’s Deliver Me, Leila’s primal instinct is to make sure her kids are safe. A survivor above everything else, Leila only makes decisions based on the wellbeing of her kids. She doesn’t mollycoddle her husband either, despite having that option.

Spoilers Ahead

Does Leila try to save Billy’s life?

Leila is sick and tired of Billy getting himself into trouble. Her job in the laundry requires her to work for the whole day, and that impacts her kids back home. Without any resistance, Billy ended up in Mehdi’s gang and Leila had no clue about it. Much later when Billy confesses that he wants to get out, Leila doesn’t lose her senses. She does the...

The Swedish Netflix series Deliver Me dives deep into the world of gang wars and the devastating impact they have on people’s lives. The story centers around two teenage boys, Bilal and Douglas, and how their lives take a dark turn after they get involved with Mehdi’s gang, ultimately leading to both of their deaths. We see that, even though Bilal wanted to leave the gang after witnessing its gruesome dark side, he faced terrible consequences and was killed. But by who? Will justice be served? In the last episode, we’ll see the struggles their families and friends go through to seek justice. You might not like the climax of the series, but truth be told, I feel the accused got what he deserved. Feel free to disagree! So, let’s find out what happens in the final episode of the series, Deliver Me.

Spoilers Ahead

Why did Douglas kill Bilal?...

In a society where little boys behave like monsters, what does an honest cop do to save the day? Deliver Me, based on the bestselling novel by Malin Persson Giolito, is about two best friends losing their lives when they get themselves into a gang. Farid Ayad, a Stockholm cop, does everything in his power to protect the town from the nasty gang violence.

Spoilers Ahead

How does Farid try to help Bilal?

Bilal gets shot by his best friend Douglas when he tries to get his life together and get away from the gang business. Before Bilal’s demise, Farid knew Bilal worked for Mehdi, a local gang leader. Farid reached out to Bilal and his mother, Leila, to guarantee their safety. When Farid caught Bilal and Douglas the first time for setting fire to a stolen car, it was he who made Bilal believe that he could have a better life.

The 2024 Netflix series, Deliver Me, really brings back memories of When They See Us, doesn’t it? Both shows dive deep into the devastating consequences of being wrongly accused. In Deliver Me, we follow the intense journey of two teenage boys, Douglas and Bilal. These boys find themselves caught up in a gang led by Mehdi Bah. We’ve seen this heartbreaking story play out before in movies and shows. Teenagers get tangled up in dangerous situations, often because of family pressures or to protect loved ones. Once they’re in, it’s nearly impossible to get out. Now tragedy strikes when Bilal gets killed. Now, the burning question on everyone’s mind is: Who killed Bilal? Was it Mehdi, the gang leader, or could it have been someone else? The mystery is on, and Officer Farid is here to find out the truth, as are we.

Spoilers Ahead

Why did Bilal want out?...

Whenever there’s an incident of a kid committing a heinous crime, people often try to point the finger at someone else. It’s not necessary that an adult will have to bear responsibility for a crime committed by their offspring. The kids in Anna Zackrisson’s Deliver Me are lost in the dark, even though they have good people around them. The story doesn’t shy away from being brave and showing the hard truths that exist in society, and a few wonderful performances only add a cherry on top.

Ardalan Esmaili as Farid

Easily the main guy in the show, Ardalan Esmaili plays the righteous cop, Farid. Last seen in “A Beautiful Life,” Esmaili shines in his second Netflix appearance. A cop dealing with young kids going off the rails and the backlash of an entire town, Farid stays firm in the moments of madness. Donning a Chicago Bulls...

Those who know who Roland Emmerich is will probably know that the director is known for his epic films, a lot of which are also major disaster films. Some of these major titles include Universal Soldier (1992), Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996) and its sequel Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), Godzilla (1998), The Patriot (2000), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 10,000 BC (2008), 2012 (2009), White House Down (2013), Midway (2019), and Moonfall (2022). But, Emmerich is now shifting to television, as his new project is about to be released on Peacock this summer. Ahead of the premiere, a teaser trailer has been released.

The project in question is the epic sword-and-sandal series Those About to Die, which is set in Ancient Rome. The series will be based on the book of the same name by writer and journalist Daniel P. Mannix; interesting enough, the same book served as the basis for Ridley Scott’s epic classic, Gladiator.

The series will star acting legend...

Considering the crackdown on filmmakers (among other artists) the Iranian government has ‘indulged' into, it is by no surprise that a number of filmmakers of the country have decided to deal with the subject. Farhad Delaram also does so in his feature debut, in a film that focuses on a director, though, that has not been overly successful (as Panahi and Rasoulof for example) nor has enjoyed the ‘benefit' of martyrdom from international press. His approach is quite interesting.

Achilles is screening at Museum of the Moving Image, as part of the First Look 2024 program

Having abandoned filmmaking, Farid has been forced to work nights as an unlicensed orthodontist in a clinic, with the help of his doctor friend, Masoud. In there he enjoys the anonymity he needs, which has also led him, though, to alienating his wife, and to a constant anger about his situation, which he frequently channels...

Kate Middleton was under heavy scrutiny recently after her Mother’s Day photo was accused of digital alteration. The Princess of Wales had been living under the radar after her surgery in January. However, she made headlines for her recent photos and the public outcry over the controversy has been strong.

Kate Middleton (Image via princeandprincessofwales/Ig)

Middleton has since apologized for the photos and while some have understood her intention, it has not died down. Hours after posting the photo, some photos of her and Prince William have circulated online, as the pair leave Windsor Castle and Middleton reportedly going for a private appointment

Kate Middleton Spotted Leaving Windsor Castle Since Her Recent Photo Mishap Kate Middleton at the Evelina Children’s Hospital last year (Image via princeandprincessofwales/Ig)

Kate Middleton has been embroiled in controversy, receiving a lot of criticism from the public for her digitally altered Mother’s Day Photo.

Bash ended up taking a trip down Memory Lane on one of the most pressure-packed days of his life.

Yes, Bash's Canadian citizenship interview finally rolled around on Transplant Season 3 Episode 8.

The questions asked by the amazingly empathetic interviewer, Mr. Chandler, made Bash ponder events in his life, both recent and further back. These flashbacks served as an effective framing mechanism.

It did take some time to figure out how the narrative was proceeding. Chandler would ask Bash a pointed question, which led to a particular moment in his past. Still, this device definitely worked for the viewer.

Bash lived by the motto that he should answer any question from the interviewer truthfully. He told the truth to Chandler throughout, even to his detriment.

You would have thought that Bash would be a shoo-in for citizenship. He's a doctor, after all, working in a major metropolitan hospital only five years after landing in Canada.

The Roost, an influential podcast network housed within Warner Bros Discovery, announced the expansion of duties for Aj Feliciano as VP of The Roost Podcast Network, overseeing all sales and partnerships. Additional advancements include Nadia Elias as Executive Director, Sales Operations & Strategy role, and Farid Haji as Head of Partnerships.

As the Head of The Roost, Aj Feliciano has overseen the business’ growth with more than 370 million views and downloads across all platforms where millennial and Gen Z audiences watch or listen to podcasts. Under his leadership, The Roost has risen as a successful and sought-after video-first podcast businesses since its inception six years ago.

Feliciano spearheaded securing creator partnerships that open up multi-layered revenue streams in the form of strategy, production, direct response and brand sales, e-commerce, event sales, multi-platform distribution and analytics. Creators include top internet talent such as Grace Helbig, H3H3, Unbox Therapy, etc. This past year,...

The renaissance in Indonesian cinema is being celebrated at the Busan International Film Festival this year with 15 films, shorts and series being showcased.

Hilmar Farid, Director General of Culture at Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, is part of a 50-strong delegation of filmmakers, committee members and media to the festival. Variety spoke with Farid about the country’s boom and its upcoming opportunities and challenges.

Indonesia is making quite a splash at Busan this year and has been consistently making waves internationally with accolades at Locarno and Venice. Why do you think the independent cinema of Indonesia has reached this level?

In the last 10 years, Indonesian filmmakers have gradually appeared on the world festival circuit. Every year they productively produce quality films that narrate Indonesia’s diversity, prioritize women’s perspectives and speak about empowerment. This consistency is the pillar of Indonesia’s international presence. Of course,...

Munich-based Beta Film, one of Europe’s leading television companies, and seasoned executive Danny Goldman have joined forces to form London-based Omega Global Media, a distribution business focusing on a selection of high-end English-language TV series. The new entity’s first project is the Canadian crime series “Something Undone,” starring Billy Campbell (“Cardinal”) and Amanda Brugel (“The Handmaid’s Tale”).

The formation of Omega Global Media reflects the partners’ shared conviction that they can co-finance and distribute premium English-language dramas beyond the constraints of the conventional studio, network, and streaming models. The company will be headed by Goldman, a former Sony Pictures Television and Miramax executive, and managing director of Goldridge Media.

Over the course of his career, Goldman has had a leading role in the distribution of many iconic TV series, including “Breaking Bad,” “Damages” and “Seinfield.” Beta Film’s credits include “The Swarm,” “Hudson&Rex,” “Prof T.,” “Babylon Berlin” and “Gomorrah.

The ongoing plights of Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof — who were both released from prison earlier this year after months of detainment for crimes relating to their criticisms of the nation’s government — prompted renewed concerns about Iran’s authoritarian policies from the global film community. But the larger philosophical and geopolitical concerns about censoring filmmakers can make it tempting to view these men as mere symbols, ignoring the spiritual price they end up paying for their work.

Panahi’s latest film, “No Bears,” made the rounds on the international festival circuit in 2022, and he used the platform to issue frequent statements about the dangers faced by Iranian filmmakers who try to express themselves freely. Panahi and his many supporters often spoke about the paradoxical reasoning that allowed filmmakers to keep focusing on the very art that was putting their freedom in jeopardy. Being creative in an environment...

Previously, in Class Act Episode 1, we were introduced to the life of Bernard Tapie, a multifaceted individual who went on an ambitious journey, spanning business, sports, and politics. In Tapie’s initial days, he wanted to start an electronic store called the “Tapie Store,” where customers could join a special subscription to get big discounts on electronic products. Initially, he found it hard to convince people to invest in his venture. However, things changed when he met a wealthy businessman named Marcel Loiseau. They decided to open the store together, but Loiseau would own most of it. This led to complications because Tapie and Dominique, who worked for Loiseau, developed feelings for each other even though Tapie was already married. So, their business partnership faced its share of challenges, affecting both their professional and personal lives.

Spoilers Ahead

What is heart assistance?

Class Act Episode 2, Bernard Tapie found himself in a dire situation.

Class Act has finally arrived on Netflix screens, and it’s ready to take you on an exciting journey through the life of Bernard Tapie. This seven-part series offers a front-row seat to the incredible story of a man who has experienced the highs and lows of a multifaceted career involving business, sports, and politics. Let’s get ready to uncover the history of Bernard Tapie, from his early days to his achievements and the challenges he faced along the way.

Spoilers Ahead

What Was Tapie’s Business Strategy?

In Class Act Episode 1, we witness a prison cell where Tapie is being locked up by a jailer. The story then takes us back to Tapie’s early days, showing him as an optimistic singer with plenty of self-confidence. His family, including his wife, Michelle, and mother, believed in his talents, but his father had doubts about his choice to become a singer.

The debut feature of Duong Dieu Linh and a documentary from Quang Nong Nhat selected.

Bangkok-based film fund Purin Pictures has selected five projects from Southeast Asia as the recipients of its spring 2023 funding round, which will receive a combined $120,000 in production grants.

The titles include Duong Dieu Linh’s feature debut Don’t Cry, Butterfly and Quang Nong Nhat’s documentary Baby Jackfruit, Baby Guava.

“Over the past several years, Vietnam in particular has proved to be a bright spot in the region for cinema,” said Aditya Assarat, co-director of Purin Pictures. “You could say we are in the...

Abu Dhabi, Jan 21 (Ians) Desert Vipers’ Alex Hales lit up the Zayed Cricket Stadium through a whirlwind century (110 runs off just 59 balls) studded with seven boundaries and six sixes, to power his team to a massive 111 run win over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ninth match of the International League T20 tournament, here on Friday night.

With his knock, the 6ft 5inch tall England opener earned the honour of becoming the first century maker of this tournament backed by his skipper Colin Munro’s 56 runs off 46 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. Together, they put on a 164 runs partnership off 95 balls for the second wicket to post a mammoth score of 219 for 4, the highest score of the tournament.

In reply, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders’ poor batting show in this tournament continued as they got bowled out for 108 in 15.1 overs. Sheldon Cottrell led the destruction with a spell of...

Dubai, Jan 14 (Ians) Skipper Rovman Powell with brilliant all-round performance (29-ball 48 and 2 wickets) led Dubai Capitals to a thumping 73-run victory over Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the opening match of the inaugural International League T20 at the Dubai International Stadium, here on Friday night.

Powell’s aim to win the campaigner opener was well supported by opener Robin Uthappa (43) and quick knocks of 26 runs each from opener Joe Root and all-rounder Sikandar Raza as Capitals posted an impressive total of 187 for 6 in 20 overs.

Thereafter, Powell (2 for 15) along with Akif Raja (2 for 20) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2 for 16) restricted Abu Dhabi Riders to 114 for 9 in 20 overs, for a massive win. Another highlight of Dubai Capitals’ splendid win was Root’s four catches.

Uthappa, opening the innings along with Root, put on 35 runs for the first wicket. Root was the first to go, falling to Ali Khan, the right-arm medium pacer from the United States of America.