Opponent

Imam, an Iranian wrestling champion, seeks asylum in Sweden with his pregnant wife Maryam and their two young daughters.  As Imam joins the Swedish wrestling team and ends up competing against his Iranian former team-mates, the real reasons why he had to leave Iran begin to become clear.  A gripping drama, not just about the plight of migrants, but also addressing issues of masculinity and sexuality.

93% – Rotten Tomatoes

6.4 / 10 – IMDB

“Payman Maadi gives another riveting, on-edge performance in this promise-fulfilling second feature from Swedish-Iranian helmer Milad Alami”

“The filmmaking, opts for suggestive subtlety over explosive flash: Sebastian Winterø’s brisk, frosty lensing heats up several degrees when bodies are in taut proximity to one another, while Olivia Neergaard-Holm’s editing tracks quickening internal urges against the oppressive slowness of days in refugee purgatory”