There Is No Evil Explained

There Is No Evil should not be confused with Evil Does Not Exist.

There Is No Evil
Director:	Mohammad Rasoulof
Producer:	Mohammad Rasoulof Kaveh Farnam Farzad Pak
Music:	Amir Molookpour
Cinematography:	Ashkan Ashkani
Editing:	Mohammadreza Muini Meysam Muini
Runtime:	150 minutes
Country:	Germany Czech Republic Iran
Language:	Persian
Gross:	$824,066^[1] ^[2]

There Is No Evil (Persian: شیطان وجود ندارد|lit=[[Shaitan]] Doesn't Exist|translit=Sheytân vojūd nadârad) is a 2020 Persian-language drama film directed and written by Mohammad Rasoulof. Banned in Iran, the film relates four stories concerning the death penalty in Iran. It had its world premiere at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Bear.

Plot

The film relates four stories involving capital punishment in Iran.^{[3] [4]}

Cast

Credits adapted from the film's ending credits.

Episode I

• Ehsan Mirhosseini as Heshmat
• Shaghayegh Shourian as Razieh

Episode II

• Kaveh Ahangar as Pouya
• Alireza Zareparast as Hasan
• Salar Khamseh as Salar
• Kaveh Ebrahim as Amir
• Reza Bahrami as Ali
• Darya Moghbeli as Tahmineh

Episode III

• Mohammad Valizadegan as Javad
• Mahtab Servati as Nana
• Anahita Eghbalnejad as Nana's Mother
• Hassan Tasiri as Nana's Father

Episode IV

• Mohammad Seddighimehr as Bahram
• Jila Shahi as Zaman
• Baran Rasoulof as Darya

Themes

Rasoulof explained that the film is about "people taking responsibility" for their actions, and that each story "is based on my own experience".

Production

There Is No Evil was directed by Mohammad Rasoulof.^{[3] [4]} Recorded secretly, the film is banned from being shown in Iran.^[5]

Release

The film was shown at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2020.^[3]

Farhang Foundation and the UCLA Film & Television Archive released There Is No Evil online from 14 May to 10 June 2021,^[6] and it was shown at the 68th Sydney Film Festival, Australia, in November 2021.^[7]

Accolades

• It won the Golden Bear at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2020.^{[8] [9]}
• Sydney Film Prize, November 2021^[7]

Rasoulof was unable to attend as he was jailed and banned from leaving Iran.^[10]

Notes and References

1. 2608300801. There Is No Evil (2020). 28 May 2021.
2. Sheytan-vojud-nadarad-(Germany). Sheytan vojud nadarad (2020). 28 May 2021.
3. Web site: The 70th Berlinale Competition and Further Films to Complete the Berlinale Special . Berlinale . 29 January 2020.
4. Web site: Berlin Competition Lineup Revealed: Sally Potter, Kelly Reichardt, Eliza Hittman, Abel Ferrara . Variety . 29 January 2020 . 29 January 2020.
5. Web site: 《惡與他們的距離》(There Is No Evil)｜惡魔在哪裏？. 電影筆友 Movie. Buddies. 17 November 2020. Medium.
6. Web site: Farhang Foundation and the UCLA Film & Television Archive present. Farhang Foundation. 26 May 2021.
7. Web site: Jefferson . Dee . Sydney Film Festival's top prize goes to Mohammad Rasoulof's There Is No Evil, about capital punishment in Iran . ABC News. . 14 November 2021 . 19 November 2021.
8. Web site: Berlin Film Festival 2020: There Is No Evil Wins Golden Bear . Variety . 29 February 2020 . 1 March 2020.
9. Web site: Berlin International Film Festival: Iranian film about executions wins top prize . BBC News . 29 February 2020 . 1 March 2020.
10. Web site: 2021年柏林电影节的大咖评委 | DW | 12.02.2021. DW.COM.