Synopsis
«A Stranger in Paris» is a true story of a recognized Iranian musician who is forced into exile taking refuge in France. To obtain French nationality in order to tour the world freely, Ahmad Yahyazadeh is advised to work as a taxi driver in Paris for a while to have regular pay stubs. Ahmad’s ‘short while’ takes longer than he expects. His passengers come from different continents, cultures, classes, languages, and ages, and Ahmad connects with them through the language of music. At the same time, Paris undergoes new changes with the Charlie Hebdo attack. Ahmad’s conversations with the passengers becomes critical of the extremist acts in a wittingly funny manner. Ahmad also lightens the heavy atmosphere through love and music. All these events become transformative experiences for Ahmad himself to become more observant of his surrounding and go beyond his own life. Ahmad’s camera eventually becomes an illuminative eye to illustrate the depth of the difficulties that many people go through – from bureaucratic problems to immigration and homelessness. Amidst all these problems, «A Stranger in Paris» is a film about hope and quest. The hope to build again one’s own life and pursuing one’s own dreams, having confidence in humanity and in life.
Director
Mahdieh Vali-Zadeh is an Iranian Canadian visual artist, PhD Candidate of Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto, and graduate of Harvard World Literature Program. With her extensive knowledge and experience in visual arts, philosophy, and literary theories, all of which overlap with Cinema Studies, Mahdieh has recently taken one step forward, experiencing artistic expression through cinema. She acted as director and artistic consultant in «A Stranger in Paris».
