Asghar Farhadi's 'Histoires Parallèles' premieres at Cannes to mixed reviews

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi's tenth feature, 'Histoires Parallèles', premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The film, starring Isabelle Huppert and Pierre Niney, is a game of appearances that ultimately loses its way despite its virtuosity and prestigious cast. The review notes that the film's intricate plot of deception and mistaken identities fails to sustain momentum, leaving the audience disengaged. Farhadi, known for his previous works like 'A Separation' and 'The Salesman', here attempts a thriller-like narrative but struggles to balance style with substance. The film's setting and themes of parallel stories are executed with technical skill but lack emotional depth. The review, published in Le Monde, criticizes the film for being overly clever and ultimately hollow.