Mani Haghighi

Mani Haghighi

Birth : 1969-07-16, Tehran, Iran

History

Mani Haghighi (b.1969, Tehran) studied philosophy at McGill University, Montreal before returning to Iran to make films. His first feature, Abadan (2003) premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. His screenplay for Asghar Farhadi’s Fireworks Wednesday (2006, co-written with the director) won the Special Jury Prize at the Three Continents Festival, Nantes. His second feature film, Men at Work (Berlinale, Forum 2006) won the Best Screenplay Prize at the 2007 Asian Film Awards (Hong Kong) and the Best Screenplay Prize in the international section of the Fajr Film Festival (Tehran). Canaan (2008), based on a short story by Alice Munro, was followed by two documentary films on the works of the acclaimed Iranian director, Dariush Mehrjui: Hamoon’s Fans (2007), about the curious lives of six Iranians who are devoted fans of Mehrjui’s 1989 film, “Hamoon”, and Dariush Mehrjui: The Forty Year Report (2012), a feature length documentary about Mehrjui’s life and works. His fourth feature film, Modest Reception (Berlinale, Forum 2012), received the NETPAC Award at the Berlin Film Festival, the Free Spirit Award at the Warsaw Film Festival, the Best Actor and Best Actress prizes at the OSIAN’s Cinefan Festival in New Delhi as well as a few other international prizes. Haghighi has also acted in several films, including Asghar Farhadi’s About Elly (Berlinale, competition 2009) and Nima Javidi’s Melbourne (2014), as well as his own film, Modest Reception.

Profile

Mani Haghighi

Movies

Won't You Cry?
A man loses the ability to cry after the death of his younger brother. As he deals with grief and the separation from his wife, he tries to reconcile his job at a football website with depression and a lack of meaning in life.
Subtraction
Writer
After a confusing interaction in downtown Tehran, a married couple seems to have found their doppelgängers.
Subtraction
Director
After a confusing interaction in downtown Tehran, a married couple seems to have found their doppelgängers.
A Conversation on The Report
Director
Viewing Kiarostami’s lesser-known great film, accompanied by his own interpretation, is like sitting in on a filmmaking masterclass. Invited by “Pig” director Mani Haghighi to go through The Report, the Iranian maestro details his working methods and approach to this deftly crafted, semiautobiographical domestic drama, while revealing the solitude of being a director, and his unparalleled views towards suicide, a concept later realised in Taste of Cherry. This candid, intimate conversation delving deep into Kiarostami’s craft provides remarkable insight on his artistry and worldview.
AMPHIBIOUS
Another amphibian, the underwater creature that crushes under the feet
The Slaughterhouse
Mr. Motevalli
Amir, recently released from prison in France, finds himself back in Iran and in over his head when his father, a slaughterhouse worker, calls him to help him cover up a crime which has happened there.
Cheshm O Goosh Baste
Boss
Two people find themselves in the middle of a murder plot. One can't hear and the other one can't see.
We Are All Together
The adventure of a plane crash with passengers who have different secrets; the secrets that are not supposed to remain hidden forever...
The Warden
In 1967, an old prisoner in southern Iran is being evacuated because of the proximity to the city's new airport. The head of the prison, Major Nemat Jahed, and his agents are busy transferring prisoners to the new prison, until ...
Sly
Ghodrat Samadi wants to become a member of parliament, but he has a reputation for recklessness and taking arbitrary action. Deciding his best course of action is negotiating with assorted parties and politicians, none take him seriously until he's connected to a single, notorious incident.
Pig
Screenplay
A serial killer is going around killing Iran's most beloved filmmakers. Hasan, a blacklisted filmmaker himself, is depressed and wonders: why isn't he being targeted?
Pig
Director
A serial killer is going around killing Iran's most beloved filmmakers. Hasan, a blacklisted filmmaker himself, is depressed and wonders: why isn't he being targeted?
Negar
Behtash
According to the police, Negar's father committed suicide. Having had a happy life, Negar suspects that his death has not happened the way it seems. She starts unfolding the truth through an unconventional investigation.
Me
Me is written and directed by Soheil Beiraghi and produced by Saeed Sa’adi and Saeed Khani. The film is about Azar (Leila Hatami), a woman who acts as a middle-man for those seeking illicit goods. According to Beiraghi: “I didn’t want to portray an ordinary woman, but the one who is living a double life. She is a rebellious woman who rebels against the law and individuals.” Me was officially selected in the Certain Regard section at the 34th Fajr International Film Festival.
A Dragon Arrives!
An orange Chevrolet Impala drives across a cemetery towards an abandoned shipwreck in the middle of a desert landscape. It is the 22nd of January, 1965. The day before, the Iranian prime minister was shot dead in front of the parliament building. Inside the wreck, a banished political prisoner has hung himself. The walls are covered in diary entries, literary quotes and strange symbols. Can they help Police Inspector Babak Hafizi in his investigations? Will they shed any light on why there is always an earthquake whenever somebody is buried in this desert cemetery?
A Dragon Arrives!
Producer
An orange Chevrolet Impala drives across a cemetery towards an abandoned shipwreck in the middle of a desert landscape. It is the 22nd of January, 1965. The day before, the Iranian prime minister was shot dead in front of the parliament building. Inside the wreck, a banished political prisoner has hung himself. The walls are covered in diary entries, literary quotes and strange symbols. Can they help Police Inspector Babak Hafizi in his investigations? Will they shed any light on why there is always an earthquake whenever somebody is buried in this desert cemetery?
A Dragon Arrives!
Screenplay
An orange Chevrolet Impala drives across a cemetery towards an abandoned shipwreck in the middle of a desert landscape. It is the 22nd of January, 1965. The day before, the Iranian prime minister was shot dead in front of the parliament building. Inside the wreck, a banished political prisoner has hung himself. The walls are covered in diary entries, literary quotes and strange symbols. Can they help Police Inspector Babak Hafizi in his investigations? Will they shed any light on why there is always an earthquake whenever somebody is buried in this desert cemetery?
A Dragon Arrives!
Director
An orange Chevrolet Impala drives across a cemetery towards an abandoned shipwreck in the middle of a desert landscape. It is the 22nd of January, 1965. The day before, the Iranian prime minister was shot dead in front of the parliament building. Inside the wreck, a banished political prisoner has hung himself. The walls are covered in diary entries, literary quotes and strange symbols. Can they help Police Inspector Babak Hafizi in his investigations? Will they shed any light on why there is always an earthquake whenever somebody is buried in this desert cemetery?
50 Kilos of Sour Cherry
Writer
When the corrupted groom starts shooting in the wedding ceremony, guests try to run away. Aida and Davoud accidentally end up in a car that crashes a police car. Aida lies to the inspector that Davoud is her husband and that's where the story begins.
50 Kilos of Sour Cherry
Director
When the corrupted groom starts shooting in the wedding ceremony, guests try to run away. Aida and Davoud accidentally end up in a car that crashes a police car. Aida lies to the inspector that Davoud is her husband and that's where the story begins.
50 Kilos of Sour Cherry
When the corrupted groom starts shooting in the wedding ceremony, guests try to run away. Aida and Davoud accidentally end up in a car that crashes a police car. Aida lies to the inspector that Davoud is her husband and that's where the story begins.
Azar, Shahdokht, Parviz va digaran
Shahdokht who is the wife of the famous actor Parviz, accidentally enters the world of cinema by being cast as an actress in Parviz's last film and becomes a serious rival for him. He becomes jealous of her and their relationship becomes sour. Until their daughter who lives in Europe is suddenly return home without a notice.
Melbourne
Amir and Sara are a young couple on their way to Melbourne to continue their studies. However, just a few hours before the departure of their flight, they are unintentionally involved in a tragic event.
Modest Reception
Screenplay
This twisted Iranian narrative follows a mysterious couple from Tehran as they distribute large bags of money in an impoverished mountain border town. Beginning as a black comedy, the film's mood transforms as the games played by Kaveh (director Mani Haghighi) and Leyla (Taraneh Alidoosti) become increasingly perverse, as they find inventive ways of humiliating the recipients of the cash. The immorality of the central characters is at times sickening, and their chain of lies is often as puzzling to us as they are to the townsfolk depicted onscreen. What is the relationship between the pair and why are they giving away money to the needy? Modest Reception has no easy answers nor pat resolutions - instead Haghighi takes the viewer on an intriguing ride into the dark recesses of the human spirit.
Modest Reception
Kaveh
This twisted Iranian narrative follows a mysterious couple from Tehran as they distribute large bags of money in an impoverished mountain border town. Beginning as a black comedy, the film's mood transforms as the games played by Kaveh (director Mani Haghighi) and Leyla (Taraneh Alidoosti) become increasingly perverse, as they find inventive ways of humiliating the recipients of the cash. The immorality of the central characters is at times sickening, and their chain of lies is often as puzzling to us as they are to the townsfolk depicted onscreen. What is the relationship between the pair and why are they giving away money to the needy? Modest Reception has no easy answers nor pat resolutions - instead Haghighi takes the viewer on an intriguing ride into the dark recesses of the human spirit.
Modest Reception
Director
This twisted Iranian narrative follows a mysterious couple from Tehran as they distribute large bags of money in an impoverished mountain border town. Beginning as a black comedy, the film's mood transforms as the games played by Kaveh (director Mani Haghighi) and Leyla (Taraneh Alidoosti) become increasingly perverse, as they find inventive ways of humiliating the recipients of the cash. The immorality of the central characters is at times sickening, and their chain of lies is often as puzzling to us as they are to the townsfolk depicted onscreen. What is the relationship between the pair and why are they giving away money to the needy? Modest Reception has no easy answers nor pat resolutions - instead Haghighi takes the viewer on an intriguing ride into the dark recesses of the human spirit.
No Men Allowed
In order to prepare her best and brightest for the upcoming chemistry Olympiad, strict, conservative headmistress Ms. Darabi is forced to break her lifelong rule of not allowing male teachers in the school and reluctantly hires the bumbling Mr. Jebeli. Little does she know though that several of her students, led by the self-assured Paria, have a plan to get her to fall in love with him. 'No Men Allowed' is a hilarious, rollicking romcom, chock-full of witty dialogue and zany antics that will have you coming back time and time again!
Aseman-e Mahboob
About Elly
Amir
The mysterious disappearance of a kindergarten teacher during a picnic in the north of Iran is followed by a series of misadventures for her fellow travelers.
Canaan
Screenplay
Mina has decided to leave her older husband Morteza after ten years of marriage. Next Monday will be her divorce date, which means her first step towards her goal; immigration. However, the arrival of her older sister, Azar, together with the illness of her mother in law is causing her trouble. To her surprise, meanwhile, she finds out she is pregnant.
Canaan
Director
Mina has decided to leave her older husband Morteza after ten years of marriage. Next Monday will be her divorce date, which means her first step towards her goal; immigration. However, the arrival of her older sister, Azar, together with the illness of her mother in law is causing her trouble. To her surprise, meanwhile, she finds out she is pregnant.
Fireworks Wednesday
Writer
Rouhi, a young bride-to-be, is hired as a maid for an affluent family in Tehran. Upon arriving, she is suddenly thrust into an explosive domestic conflict. The wife is convinced her husband is having an affair and enlists Rouhi as a spy, to follow her husband, and confirm her suspicions. What Rouhi discovers, however, threatens not only their marriage but her own future.
Men at Work
Screenplay
A political allegory on four middle-class guys who pile into their car for a ski weekend. A brief stop at a picturesque vista leads to their chance discovery of a prominent rock formation it seems would be oh so easy to tip over, but...
Men at Work
Director
A political allegory on four middle-class guys who pile into their car for a ski weekend. A brief stop at a picturesque vista leads to their chance discovery of a prominent rock formation it seems would be oh so easy to tip over, but...
Abadan
Screenplay
An old Iranian man disappears while searching for a friend who's been dead ten years, so his agitated daughter enlists her estranged husband to look for him; the husband puts his foot down at first but soon finds himself cruising the streets of Tehran with his best friend, searching for the old rascal and cursing all the way.
Abadan
Director
An old Iranian man disappears while searching for a friend who's been dead ten years, so his agitated daughter enlists her estranged husband to look for him; the husband puts his foot down at first but soon finds himself cruising the streets of Tehran with his best friend, searching for the old rascal and cursing all the way.
The Ghost Valley's Treasure Mysteries
Ali
A satirical comedy about a poor farmer who, while plowing his field, accidentally uncovers an ancient burial chamber loaded with gold artifacts. Realizing that the trove would somehow liberate him from his bumpkin existence, he brings pieces of it to a jeweler in the city.