Makhmalbaf’s President at Venice Film Festival: Belarusians draw parallels with Lukashenka
Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who is famous for his movies ‘Kandahar’ and ‘A Moment of Innocence’ has presented his new work at this year’s Venice Film Festival. ‘The President’, a political satire movie, shows the story of an elderly dictator and his beloved grandson.
The director was inspired by the images of some leaders of Eastern European countries, film critics say. For most Belarusians the main character bears a strong resemblance President Aliaksandr Lukashenka and his youngest son Mikalai. As the Belarusian leader, Makhmalbaf’s dictator likes to dress his grandson in military uniform and persecutes opposition. But after bloody rioting the tyrant and his favourite have to take their monkey suits off and take a closer look to the oppressed people’s life.
