What does it mean to wholeheartedly pursue your dreams—or to abandon them for a greater cause? A Good Day Will Come, directed by Iranian-Canadian filmmaker Amir Zargara, has this daunting question in its focal point. Recently qualified for the 2025 Oscars, this highly personal short film tells the story of Arash, a professional wrestler torn between his ambitions for Olympic glory and the moral weight of his homeland’s struggles. With a poignant narrative rooted in real events, this is not just a film—it is a reflection of resilience and fighting for justice even under the heavy weights of political oppression.
The film is dedicated to Navid Afkari, a young Iranian wrestler unjustly executed in 2020 after being convicted during the 2018 protests in Iran. In 2017-18 protests erupted over economic injustices, water crises, and rising poverty, with unrest gripping the nation. Zargara, who grew up in Iran and later moved to Canada, felt compelled to tell Navid’s story. “Navid and I were born just months apart,” Zargara says. “While I had the freedom to pursue my dreams in Canada, Navid faced unimaginable hardships. I see this film as my way of serving my country from afar, akin to mandatory military service.”
The narrative focuses on Arash, a fictional character inspired by Navid. Arash is an ordinary man with extraordinary dreams, both burdened and inspired by his late father’s legacy as a wrestler, the responsibility of caring for his family, and the expectations of a nation. The film opens with him working on a construction site, where even how he receives his paycheck speaks volumes—he tries to give part of it back to his employer struggling to make ends meet. This quiet act foreshadows much of what is to come.
The lead, Arash, is portrayed by Iranian-British actor Sia Alipour. A skilled Taekwondo practitioner turned actor, Alipour brings a nuanced intensity and realism to the role. His physicality—both imposing and vulnerable—makes Arash’s internal dilemma palpable. Supporting him is Mehdi Bajestani, known for his Cannes-debut performance in Holy Spider. Bajestani plays Arash’s coach with quiet gravitas, embodying both a mentor’s authority and the fierce loyalty of someone fighting for his community, and team. Together, their chemistry on screen is magnetic, each gaze and gesture laden with unspoken words.
Shot by Jalen Maxwell, the cinematography is restrained and beautifully stark. Natural, constrasty lighting and a cold blue-gray palette create an atmosphere of tension and melancholy. Zargara’s penchant for framing characters through doorways and other physical boundaries cleverly mirrors the divisions and constraints in Arash’s life. As viewers, we feel like voyeurs, peering into a world many of us know too little about. “This visual approach was intentional,” Zargara noted. “I wanted to convey both the intimacy and the isolation of Arash’s journey.”
The sound design by Amir Mohabbati adds yet another layer of depth. From the rhythmic ticking of a clock to the harrowingly nearby sounds of protests, the auditory experience heightens the stakes without overpowering the visuals.
The film’s conflict—whether to fight for personal success or the collective good—is heartbreakingly universal. While rooted in the specifics of Iran’s 2018 protests, it echoes struggles worldwide, where individuals must navigate the tension between personal ambitions – and general well-being – and societal obligations. “This is not just Iran’s story,” Zargara explained. “It’s a story of human resilience and the longing for justice everywhere.”
What sets A Good Day Will Come apart is its refusal to vilify or simplify. The Iranian government’s oppressive actions are clear, but Zargara deliberately distinguishes between the regime and its people. “I aim to foster empathy and understanding, not fuel division,” he said. “The Iranian people’s spirit is what this film celebrates.”
Source: IMDB
At 26 minutes, A Good Day Will Come packs the emotional punch of a feature-length drama. The tension is reminiscent of Quo Vadis, Aida?, with its visceral portrayal of life under political and social duress as well as sheer violence. The film’s climax delivers a gut-wrenching emotional payoff, a stark reminder of the cost of standing up for one’s beliefs.
In a world where headlines often blur the faces behind them, A Good Day Will Come humanizes a complex and intricate situation that might otherwise be reduced to statistics. It sheds light on the courage required to stand against oppression and asks viewers to consider their own moral boundaries.
As Navid Afkari once said, “Our only power lies in our united voice.” This film amplifies that voice, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, the collective human spirit endures—and sometimes, that alone is worth fighting for.
~ by Dora Endre ~
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