We live in a time when it seems the only way to make change is by speaking out. This is true in Amir Zargara’s short film from Iran, A Good Day Will Come.
By day, a young man named Arash works as a bricklayer, barely earning enough to support his mother and siblings. By night, he is a professional wrestler training hard in pursuit of reaching his Olympic dreams. Watching the news each night, Arash can’t ignore the growing unrest in his country. The youth line the streets protesting unemployment, inflation, and government corruption. In return, the government’s response has led to the deaths of many young people protesting in the streets.
One day, Arash is devastated to learn that his sister Mitra was killed during the latest protest and can not stand silent anymore. Though his coach and mother urge him to stay silent and focus on wrestling, Arash is compelled to speak out. During a press conference, he publicly supports “his people.”
“…conflicted between winning the match and the circumstances of his sister’s death.”
During his next tournament, Arash is conflicted between winning the match and the circumstances of his sister’s death. He is determined more than ever to lend his voice to the cause.
A Good Day Will Come is a compelling story about the sentiment that the youth of Iran are feeling at the moment: that their country is divided between a people who want to live in peace and a government that cares more about gaining power and amassing weapons at the expense of its people.
Running for almost 30 minutes, A Good Day Will Come tells the fully fleshed-out story of Arash, a soon-to-be-famous figure in Iran. The first half of the film builds on the feeling that Arash has to speak out and stand with his people. The second half deals with the consequences of such actions. His tale is powerful indeed. Filmmaker Zargara masterfully conveys Arash’s emotions while elevating a low-budget production to the level of top-quality cinema.
"…the only way to make change is by speaking out."
