Copy in clipboard...
‘Iliya, Search of Hero’ director calls film ‘most anti-Israeli’ in children’s genre
The film features four characters from four different parts of the world—Arash from Iran, Habib from Palestine, Jin from China, and Louis from France—whose paths cross in an international incident.
In an interview with IRNA, director Ali Mousavinejad said that he has always been passionate about creating heroes for Iranian children and teens, expressing dismay at their admiration for “false heroes.”
The film simulates the conquest of the Fortress of Khaybar by Imam Ali, the first Imam of Shia Muslims, in the form of a video game. It tells the story of a young gamer named Arash, who enters a mysterious online game. Arash’s family tries to protect him from the game’s dangers, but a greater conspiracy looms.
Mousavinejad explained that the story of the conquest of Khaybar is an epic that can greatly contribute to young audiences’ understanding of the character and virtues of Imam Ali. “For years, I wanted to narrate this story in a non-Arab setting in an appealing way for children,” he said. The final narrative, which blends live-action and animation techniques, presents the historical event as if the children are listening to a class on early Islamic history.
The director lamented the increasing attacks on religious beliefs in Iran and criticized various institutions for their weak response.
He emphasized that children and adolescents lack the agency to demand their rights and are often overlooked.
On the genre of the film, Mousavinejad clarified that it is primarily an adventure-mystery blend, contrary to assumptions that it falls under fantasy. He asserted that the events and characters in the film are grounded in logic, without any fantastical or superhuman elements.
Regarding the character design, the initial plan was to make the film fully animated. However, after changes to the screenplay, the designs were restarted, leading to a different artistic direction.
Mousavinejad, himself a parent of two teenagers, shared his interest in video games and noted the significant number of gamers in Iran, estimated at around 40 million by the country’s Computer and Video Games Foundation. He deliberately crafted a narrative world that would appeal to young gamers.
The director also addressed the challenges of producing children’s films and animations in Iran, which have led to limitations in this field.
He attributed the lack of consistent and sustained support from institutions as a key factor, along with the reluctance of producers to take on financial risks for such projects, especially those involving animation.