Orca

This beautifully shot and masterfully directed biopic revolves around real-life Iranian swimmer Elham Asghari and her struggles to set an unprecedented record of swimming kilometres in the sea, in a country where women are deprived of their most basic human rights and female athletes are obliged to follow the most ridiculously complicated regulations regarding their clothes and posture. Set in contemporary Iran, Elham is denied by the swimming federation of Iran to have broken an actual record when women are now allowed to do so, based on Islamic governing rules as it is referred to multiple times during the movie. Elham, therefore, embarks on a journey headed towards breaking a Guinness record and becoming the first Iranian to achieve such honour. While on this journey of hers, she comes across charitable ethnic characters in the south of Iran ( where she breaks her Guinness record ), allowing us to become familiar with their rich culture and heritage. It is, also, worth highlighting that Taraneh Alidoosti ( the star of academy-award-winning film The Salesman by Asghar Farhadi ) once again shines as the legendary actress she is, conveying Elham's struggles and emotions throughout the most dramatic scenes of the film.

Orca" - A Film That Shows Taraneh Alidoosti at Her Best

If I were to talk about the film "Orca", I'd say it's one of those movies that really shows how a true and authentic story can be beautifully told. The director, Sahra Pazibi, has managed to portray the story of a female athlete in such a way that it feels like I'm stepping right into her world. Watching this film, I felt completely connected to the character of Elham, played by Taraneh Alidoosti.

Taraneh Alidoosti's Outstanding Performance:

First off, I have to say that Taraneh Alidoosti gave one of her best performances in this film. She plays Elham, a woman who wants to set a new freestyle swimming record, but is faced with countless social and personal obstacles. Taraneh brings an incredibly natural and deep portrayal to the character. From moments of despair to those of hope and struggle, she portrays it all in a believable way. I really enjoyed her performance because nothing felt forced or fake.

The Story and Its Message:

The story of the film is about a female athlete who not only has to battle with her internal struggles but also with the society she lives in, which places a lot of limitations on women. Elham decides to break a new record in freestyle swimming, but the society she lives in doesn't make it easy for her. This film is more than just a sports story; it touches on social and cultural challenges, showing how a woman can fight against these obstacles with determination and resilience.

Direction and Cinematic Style:

The atmosphere of the film was really captivating. Sahra Pazibi did an intelligent job with the direction, and it really helped convey the emotions of the characters in a way that felt real. The use of lighting and set design was perfect for enhancing the story and making the audience connect with the feelings and messages the film was trying to convey.

The Downsides:

Let's be honest for a second. One of the downsides I noticed about the film is that, in some parts, the story feels a bit predictable and a little shallow. Especially during the moments when Elham makes big decisions, I expected the film to delve deeper into her inner emotions. Some critics also pointed out that the film didn't manage to convey its deeper messages as powerfully as it could have.

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, I'd say that "Orca" is a film that really pulled me in. Taraneh Alidoosti truly shines in this movie, and her performance is one of the best parts of the film. While the story might feel a bit predictable at times, it's still a movie worth watching. It serves as a reminder of how to stand strong in the face of challenges. If you're looking for a film with an inspiring and human-centered message, this one is a great choice.

It is a sport biographical drama/social realism drama film with a lot of look into social issues.

This film is about a woman who wants to feel free through swimming and take back her dignity through having huge Guinness world record.

Iranian women are oppressed by the regime at an unbelievable level. I'm sure some Western audience who watch such films can't even understand what some issues mean or they can't believe that women in Iran are living under harsh conditions.

Our regime is an Islamic totalitarian regime with strong far-right attitude. Islamic fundamentalism is a huge problem for anyone who wants to do any form of sport here and if you want to thrive and be seen on magazines, you should stick to the rules that government promotes. Elham Asghari even tried to accept the nonsense fully covered thing that they might accept but they didn't let her do any serious or official record ever. This is her inspirational story through her dreams.

Another aspect of her life that we see on this film is violence against women and domestic violence. Divorce and family support.

Tarane Alidoosti did a great job here and the rest of the casts were good also. Tala Motazedi wrote a great screenplay with a lot of accurate points and great parts.

I liked so many editing moments in this film that really added to the story. The film score was good and in some moments really helped the film to have a more powerful impact.

It is Sahar Mosayebi directorial debut but she did a feature documentary before. I will keep an eye on her next films. She did a great job here.

I'm sure all the crew are paying their prices for their participation in this film. It was a great tribute to Elham Asghari the woman that this film is about. There were some minute things that I would change or add.

Compulsory hijab is an insult to both women and men. Conservatism is destructive. There's no humanity in such fundamentalist views.

8.3/10.

An inspiring real-life story about a Guiness World Record holder Elham Asghari. Even though this film is centered around swimming, the main plot tackles much deeper serious issues such as religious, political and sexist obstacles that are built for women in sports in Iran and also domestic violence. On the other hand it also beautifully shows the journey of fighting for your dreams and what it takes to become your true self. The whole film is accompanied by a very soothing and enjoyable music score. I must also highlight the performance of Taraneh Alidoosti , who proves once again that she is an unstoppable force in contemporary Iranian cinema.

This movie is one of the movies that were released this year. Ali Dosti's song is perfect as always. The story of this movie is based on reality and is actually considered a biographical movie. The actors have played their roles well. The dialogues and actually the way of thinking of some people in the story sometimes become so nerve-wracking that the audience completely sympathizes with the lead actor and puts himself in similar situations. Trying to reach a peak, despite many obstacles, forms the whole story and this is something that many of us have experienced in different ways. It is a good movie.