In the aftermath of a devastating rumor, Iman and his family have been forced to flee Iran. As refugees, they end up in a run-down hotel in northern Sweden. Despite feeling powerless, Iman tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch. To increase their chances of asylum, he breaks a promise to his wife and joins the local wrestling club. As the rumours start to resurface, Iman’s fear and desperation begin to take a hold.

Directed by: Milad Alami
Production Year: 2023
Country: Sweden
Length: 119 minutes

Credits

Director: Milad Alami
Writer: Milad Alami
Producers: Annika Rogell, Sandra Warg, Peter Possne
Cinematographer: Sebastian Winterø
Production Designer: Thomas Øyjordsbakken
Composer: Jon Ekstrand, Carl-Johan Sevedag
Editor: Olivia Neergaard-Holm
Sound Designer: Andreas Franck

Cast

Payman Maadi
Marall Nasiri
Björn Elgerd
Ardalan Esmaili
Arvin Kananian
Nicole Mehrbod
Diana Farzami
Magnus Mark
Joonas Saartmo

The Gambler

Short Film | Australian Premiere | 2016

Director's Biography
Director's Biography
Karim Lak-Zadeh was born in 1986- Shiraz, Iran, after graduating from Theatre School in 2004 he studied in the major of TV Directing. First he focused on story writing for the films and theatre and his story; I AM SPELLED won the prize in and reciting the play Fortress, won the best Experimental Theatre direction award.
Then he made 6 shorts, which were successful in local festivals and award in the different festivals (details are in the filmography section)

Synopsis

In a misty village, two gamblers stupefy an old man and take him to his deserted cottage. They bury him alive in the garden and bet on his money. Drunk, at midnight their bet is on the old man being dead or alive. They dig up the grave...

Festivals & Awards

  • Festival International de film de Fribourg in the International Competition Short Film 2016
  • 43rdTelluride Film Festival – September 2016 in the program of FILMMAKERS OF TOMORROW

Production Team

Director
Karim Lak-Zadeh
Country
Iran
Runtime 
20 min
Language
Persian with English Subtitles
Premiere Status 
Classification 
18+
Year
2016
Screenwriter 
Karim Lak-Zadeh
Producer
Mehdi Rashidi
Cinematographer 
Pouyan Ranjbar
Editor
Pouyan Sholevar
Cast
Behzad Davarani, Hamed Jajabat, Shahbaz Abbasi

Other Short Films

Stills

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