A Good Day Will Come

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.

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.

Amir Zargara's A Good Day will Come asks the pertinent question that is at heart over every revolution; do you have what it takes to rebel against the regime? By framing this question within an aspiring wrestler, Amir Zargara shows the audience how even a tiniest act of resistance echoes forever. As Arash, the wrestler, prepares to take centre stage for his home country, a series of events will force him to do something drastic. The dialogue is minimal as Zargara allows the audience to fill in what he refuses to use overt exposition for. With a grim visual aesthetic and nuanced pacing, the film presents an inspiring message about standing up for what is right, and will leave you moved and inspired long after it ends.

I'm not usually a fan of short films, but A Good Day Will Come is something special. Arash, a wrestler in Iran, is grappling with both his sport and the unrest around him, and the film captures his struggle beautifully. It's dark, moody, and the soundtrack really hits home. Sia Alipour's performance as Arash is moving without being overdone. Director Amir Zargara takes you into this emotional world, and by the end, it leaves you with a sense of quiet hope. The dark visuals and haunting music make every moment feel heavy yet important. It's brief but leaves a lasting impact. Definitely worth your time.

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.