A Good Day Will Come

Starring Sia Alipour and Mehdi Bajestani, Amir Zargara's A Good Day will Come finds Arash, a professional wrestler, dreaming of representing his country and winning gold medals. But, his country is in turmoil and its people are suffering and Arash must decide between using his platform to stand up to tyranny, or put his head down and remain silent.

Powerful and moving, Amir Zargara's short film was inspired by the plight of Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari. Zargara chooses to highlight the moral conflict within the protagonist in a number of astute ways, and as the story progresses, we witness Arash slowly and gradually transforming from a meek bystander into something else entirely. The seeds of resistance take root in his mind and we see the wrestler change as a result, both inside and out.

The dark and shadowy cinematography alludes to the hopelessness within the narrative as powerful performances from the cast force you to take notice. Sia Alipour as Arash is a revelation, conveying his internal conflict perfectly while Mehdi Bajestani as his coach is fantastic in his own right. The narrative pacing is on point and the film never manages to drag on, courtesy of its sharp editing.

Inspiring and subliminally powerful in select moments, A Good Day will Come benefits from a poignant and original story that takes inspiration from real world events to say something powerful about the world we live in. While the film will have its share of naysayers, I think it nevertheless manages to get its message across with ease. A win for Amir Zargara, A Good Day will Come soars above the clouds as it celebrates resistance against tyranny and oppression. Four stars out of five.

The film, directed by Amir Zargara, is a semi-autobiographical film inspired by the life of Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari.

It follows Arash, a pro-wrestler who is torn between standing up against the tyrannical regime or quietly enjoying his glory by staying in his lane. When someone dear to him dies during a government protest, Arash cannot stay silent anymore and takes to the street. What happens next puts him on a treacherous path filled with danger.

The film is a daring ode to the resistance movement against Iran's oppressive government. Following Arash's arc from a mere athlete to an active part of the movement, you get that rousing, empowering feeling about doing what's right even though it might not be easy. It also highlights that despite the heroism, such a courageous act definitely comes at a price. The film deftly balances this duality and unflinchingly portrays what it's like to be in a dictatorial society. It is based on the experience of talented wrestler Afkari, who died in prison after being - allegedly - falsely accused of murder after partaking in protests.

Visually, A Good Day Will Come is confidently filmed, with sharp cinematography and well-paced editing. It's got everything: the harrowing, heroic, tragic, and ultimately, a bittersweet but meaningful depiction of the cost of standing up for justice in this day and age.

A Good Day Will Come, Ifilmmaker Amir Zargara crafts a striking narrative that blends personal struggle with social awareness. The story centers on Arash, a wrestler whose mind is as entangled in the country's social upheaval as it is on his sport. Played by Sia Alipour, Arash embodies the quiet but powerful emotions of someone who carries the weight of his people's pain, and Alipour's performance is both subtle and deeply moving. The film's color grading, steeped in dark, muted tones, paints the lives of Arash and those around him in shades of grey, visually representing the bleakness of their reality. A haunting, melancholic soundtrack amplifies this atmosphere, making each scene feel emotionally charged. Wrestling scenes are more than just physical displays-they're moments of introspection for Arash, showing that his mind is never fully in the ring but always with the people enduring hardship. Amir Zargara's direction reveals an understanding of both visual and emotional storytelling. Without giving too much away, the film's title, A Good Day Will Come, echoes throughout, as a message of hope that Arash clings to. It's a short but impactful piece, dedicated to the resilience that exists within us all and our quiet faith that one day, peace and justice will prevail.

What will you do if you are a wrestler representing your country for olympic gold but your people are being oppressed by the same country? Amir Zargara's fascinating short asks this same question in 'A Good Day will Come'. Faced with a hard choice that will have significant repercussions on him and his career, wrestler Arash will take a leap of faith and immortalise himself in the annals of history.

From the narrative pacing to the cinematography, everything works perfectly in this fiery tale of defiance. Inspired by true events, the film will inspire you and rally you to action. Sia Alipour and Mehdi Bajestani are perfect as wrestler and coach; while Bajestani advises Arash to keep his eye on the prize, Arash cannot turn away any longer. What follows is a tale of standing up to an empire against all odds. Five out of five from me.

A crown jewel in Iranian diaspora cinema, A Good Day will Come manages to impress in more ways than one. What begins as a story of a wrestler competing for Olympic gold turns into an act of resistance that will galvanise an entire nation. Taking inspiration from the real life story of Navid Afkari, the film finds its protagonist rising up against a government that has lost the trust of its people. Writer and director Amir Zargara places the moral dilemma front and centre as he shows how such hard choices affect both those who take them and their loved ones. The dim cinematography amplifies the story and the brisk editing keeps us on our toes. Highly recommended.