"20 years of a hero's life"

Ali Ashtiani Pour, the producer of the film "Hook" directed by Hossein Reigi, described the film in an interview with Mehr news agency regarding its participation in the

Sodai Simorgh section of the 41st Fajr Film Festival. He stated: "The production of this film was commissioned by the Farabi Cinema Foundation, and after reading the screenplay, I realized that its story takes place in Sistan and Baluchestan. Following my trip to that region, I felt it was important to make this film for the highly respected and kind people of that area, especially since Iranian cinema has not explored that region much and they have been portrayed as victims in our films."

He continued: "The story of 'Hook' was relatable to the current lives of people. The discussion about making the film started almost a year ago, and after negotiations, we reached the production stage. One of our commitments in the contract was to present the film at the festival, which is why the film was submitted to the festival after its completion and found its way into the competition section."

"Our motivation was to present a different image of Sistan and Baluchestan," added Ashtiani Pour. "One of the reasons we accepted to make this film was because we felt that the presented image of Sistan and Baluchestan in some Iranian films focused more on issues such as smuggling and insecurity in those regions, while when we went there ourselves, we encountered a different image. This province has very kind-hearted people, and this motivated us to present a different image of this province in Iranian cinema. I think the same thing happened with the film 'Hook.'"

He further explained: "The story of our film starts from the daily lives of people in these regions, and through it, we have tried to portray their national and patriotic concerns. I hope the result of this work will be well-received by the people of Sistan and Baluchestan. The film's narrative is about the motivations of a young person in their ordinary life, who faces a setback and overcomes it through effort."

Ashtiani Pour also commented on whether "Hook" can be considered a sports film: "The story of the film is somewhat related to the sports atmosphere, but it cannot be considered a sports genre film. In Sistan and Baluchestan, we have numerous champions in the field of sports, especially boxing, and that's why choosing this subject matter for the people of this region can have added appeal."

Regarding the lesser popularity of sports films among Iranian filmmakers, he said: "Addressing this issue can be done in the form of analysis, but regarding the film 'Hook,' our main concern was to focus on the path a hero chooses to achieve their goals, and it is in this path that sports become a part of this hero's story. From this perspective, we were not simply aiming to make a sports film; rather, sports exist as a background in the narrative."

Ashtiani Pour explained the target audience of "Hook": "Since the main protagonist's life is portrayed from childhood to adulthood, the film includes chapters from the character's childhood and adolescence, which can also attract the attention of child and adolescent viewers. However, the overall film tells the story of a life experienced over 20 years."

Regarding the collaboration with Hossein Reigi as a filmmaker originating from Sistan and Baluchestan in making this film, he said: "Reigi's personal experience and familiarity with that region had a significant impact on the film's production. He had lived in that environment, and we knew that he could understand the culture of that region better than any other director and connect with the language and dialect of that area. Mr. Reigi's presence has greatly contributed to the film, and based on the limited screenings we have had so far, their work has received significant attention from the people of that region."

• Mehrnews