This is not just an Iranian story

INTERVIEW. The theme of 'Holy Spider' has become even more relevant with the ongoing uprising in Iran. But 'Holy Spider' is also a 'film noir' and a universal story about brave men and women who fight for their own freedom and that of others. We spoke to director Ali Abbasi and the film's lead actor Zar Amir Ebrahimi.

19. October 2022 Redaktionen

Watch the interview here, where Ali Abbasi and Zar Amir Ebrahimi talk about the making of 'Holy Spider', the inspiration behind the film and the main character Rahimi, who won Zar Amir Ebrahimi the best actor award in Cannes - and about the current Iranian uprising against the oppression of women, which according to Ali Abbasi, "... is the most important thing that has happened in Iran in the last 50 years".

Holy Spider

Ali Abbasi, 2022

Rahimi, a young female journalist, travels to the Iranian holy city of Mashhad to investigate a serial killer targeting sex workers. As she draws closer to exposing his crimes, the opportunity for justice grows harder to attain when the murderer is embraced by many as a hero. Based on the true story of the 'Spider Killer' Saeed Hanaei, who saw himself as on a mission from God as he killed 16 women between 2000 and 2001.

Ali Abbasi

Director. Born 1981, Iran. In 2002 he gave up his studies at Teheran Polytechnic University and travelled to Europe, where he finally settled in Stockholm, Sweden.