A prominent Iranian athlete is torn between his professional and political obligations in filmmaker Amir Zargara‘s A Good Day Will Come. Inspired by true events surrounding wrestler Navid Afkari’s unjust execution during the 2018 Iranian protests, Zargara’s film shows the moral dilemma at the heart of conflicting responsibilities. Winner of “Best Canadian Short Film” at the Vancouver Short Film Festival, A Good Day Will Come qualifies for the 2025 Academy Awards.

An Athlete Wrestles with Defending His Country or Remaining Silent

Sia Alipour plays Arash, a professional wrestler whose Olympic dreams seem within reach. He aspires to represent his country, Iran, at the future Olympic Games and has the skills to back it up. However, his gold medal ambitions come to a halt once he realizes the state of turmoil and injustice his fellow Iranians find themselves in. Arash cannot ignore the suffering and decides to make a grand political gesture to bring attention to the cause. He chooses to use his platform to stand up to tyranny instead of remaining silent, but doing so puts a target on his back that he cannot escape.

Wrestling gives Arash a sense of control. With the right moves and techniques, he can beat his opponents with relative ease. It’s a sport he knows he can win. In the real world, however, Arash cannot harness control. His fate remains at the mercy of government officials, which is a sobering reality check for Arash, who realizes that wrestling only gives him an illusion of control. By speaking up and becoming politically active, he is doing what he can to take back the reins of his own life.

Capturing the Feeling of Oppression Onscreen

Visually, the film incorporates a moody color palette that feels indicative of the theme of oppression. Cinematographer Jelan Maxwell offers gritty and dynamic compositions that express so much without the need for dialogue. Of course, Sia Alipour brings the film to life as Arash. His performance is fiercely strong while also being empathetic. Iranian-Canadian writer and director Amir Zargara infuses his own musings of resilience into the script which makes for an impactful and moving experience.

Takeaway

With seven wins and sixteen nominations, A Good Day Will Come is leaving quite a mark on the film festival circuit. The Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari once said “Our only power lies in our united voice”. This short film tells a heartbreaking story about an inspirational figure whose brave actions continue to be a guiding light in the fight against injustice.