| Opponent | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Opponent_(film)_poster.jpg) Promotional release poster | |
| Swedish | Motståndaren |
| Directed by | Milad Alami |
| Written by | Milad Alami |
| Produced by | Annika Rogell |
| Starring | Payman Maadi Marall Nasiri Björn Elgerd |
| Cinematography | Sebastian Winterø |
| Edited by | Olivia Neergaard-Holm |
| Music by | Carl-Johan Sevedag Jan Ekstrand |
Production companies | Ape&Bjørn Tangy |
| Distributed by | TriArt Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 119 minutes |
| Countries | Sweden Norway |
| Languages | Swedish Persian |
Opponent (Swedish: Motståndaren; Persian: دشمن) is a 2023 Swedish-Norwegian drama film written and directed by Milad Alami.[1] The film stars Payman Maadi as Iman, an Iranian man who has moved to Sweden as a refugee with his wife Maryam (Marall Nasiri) and their daughters Asal (Nicole Mehrbod) and Sahar (Diana Farzami). A wrestler in Iran before being forced to escape the country, he turns back to the sport in hopes of speeding up his asylum application by trying out for the Swedish national wrestling team, building toward the revelation that the real reason he was forced to leave Iran was that one of his former teammates outed him to the community as a closeted gay man, which carries the penalty of execution in the Islamic Republic of Iran.[2]
The cast also includes Björn Elgerd, Amirali Abanzad, Ahmed Abdullahi, Robin Ahlqvist, Leyla Aksoy, Anton Andersson, William Arvidsson, Helya Beikzadeh, Anton Carlsson, Ardalan Esmaili, Diana Farzami, Sevin Fidan, Anton Jalneskog, Jonatan Jednell, Tobias Johansson, Arvin Kananian and Max Karlsson.
It was selected as the Swedish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards,[3][4] but it was not nominated.
- ^ Guy Lodge, "‘Opponent’ Review: A Refugee Turns to Wrestling in a Sharp, Stressful Social Thriller". Variety, 11 March 2023.
- ^ David Rooney, "‘Opponent’ (‘Motstandaren’) Review: Payman Maadi Brings Searing Intensity to Character Study of an Iranian Refugee in Sweden". The Hollywood Reporter, 25 February 2023.
- ^ "European titles submitted for the Oscars race". Cineuropa. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "Milad Alami's Opponent is Sweden's Academy Award submission". Swedish Film Institute. Retrieved 29 October 2023.