Bodyguard (2016) by Ebrahim Hatamikia is a masterful dramatic thriller.
Bodyguard by the famous Iranian director Ebrahim Hatamikia received three awards at the Vienna Independent Film Festival 2017. With this film Hatamikia managed to create a true masterpiece of cinematography.
It tells the story of a bodyguard, and although there were films on this topic before, but this picture stands apart. The film is perfect from the standpoint of cinematography, actors, and ideas.
The story begins with the main hero Hajji Heidar Zabihi, played by Parviz Parastoui, getting assigned to protect vice-president Dr. Solati. But during an assassination attempt by a suicide bomber the vice-president becomes injured and subsequently dies. After this Heidar receives another important mission to protect nuclear scientist Meisam Zarrin (portrayed by Babak Hamidian who received the Best Supporting Actor award at VIFF). The main character is constantly haunted by the images of his past and he questions his mission and his future. After some time he begins to doubt that he did everything he could to protect Dr. Solati.
The film depicts well the modern Iranian society and although this film is very realistic it is also highly expressive. One of the most memorable scenes is the end, where the bodyguard dies in the tunnel and the Lebanese prayer hymn accompanies the powerful images of the protagonist demise.
