Cannes Film Festival 2026: Parallel Stories by Asghar Farhadi Sparks Political Questions

Mixed French Press Reviews: “A Film of Form and Structure”

French critics offered a more divided response. Many reviews described Parallel Stories as:

• A formal experiment in narrative structure
• A carefully controlled emotional system
• A film that prioritizes intellectual design over raw emotional impact

Some critics praised Farhadi’s consistency and craftsmanship, while others suggested the film may feel distant compared to his earlier works such as A Separation or The Salesman.