Starring Iranian actors Mohsen Tanabandeh and Mojtaba Pirzadeh, the film is about Azim, an Afghan refugee who works as a janitor in Tehran. While helping his mother and his brother’s family plan to smuggle themselves into Germany, he feels betrayed by his brother when he abandons their mother.
The film has received several awards in Iranian and international events, including the Kim Ji-seok Award at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival in October 2018 and best film award at the Sharm el-Sheikh Asian Film Festival in Egypt last March.
Rona, Azim’s Mother was Afghanistan’s submission to the 91st Academy Awards in the best foreign-language film category in 2018, however, it did not make the shortlist.
The film’s star Tanabandeh also received a nomination in the best actor category at the APSA, but Manoj Bajpayee from India won the award for his role in Devashish Makhija’s movie, Bhonsle.
The Korean Palme d’Or-winning film Parasite by Joon-ho Bong was selected as best film, while the jury’s grand prize was awarded to It Must Be Heaven by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman.
Buoyancy by Rodd Rathjen from Australia won the best youth film award, while the best animation award went to Weathering with You by Makoto Shinkai from Japan.
Source:Tehran Times