Saeed Rad returned to cinema with his performance in the film Duel, which is recognized as one of the most expensive works in Iranian cinema. Duel, with a production cost of one million eight hundred thousand dollars, is considered one of the most expensive films in the history of Iranian cinema and has received eight Crystal Simorghs from the 22nd Fajr Film Festival. This film was the first Iranian film recorded with Dolby Digital sound.
Controversies Surrounding Saeed Rad's Return
The controversies surrounding Saeed Rad's return to cinema after 19 years of being banned from working are quite notable. He was banned from working after acting in the film Eagles (1984) and spent years away from his homeland. Mehdi Fakhrizadeh, a director and actor, recalls that the controversies surrounding the film Eagles were so intense that there was even debate about it in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Ultimately, due to these controversies, Rad lived in various countries for years and had to take on different jobs to make a living.
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From Exile to Return
After years of hardship, Rad was presented with the opportunity to act in Duel by Ahmadreza Darvish. He reflects on this experience, saying: "Ahmadreza Darvish really liked me and stood by me in the film Duel." His presence in this film marked his return to the world of cinema. Rad played the negative role of Khooli Manesh, which he is very satisfied with.
Ahmadreza Darvish, at a ceremony honoring this film, named Rad the best actor and also recognized other actors. Rad recalls that at the first screening of the festival, when his name was introduced as an actor, the audience applauded with joy, and he couldn't control his tears.
Leila Hatami, one of the actresses in this film, also stated in an interview that her participation in Duel was out of respect for Saeed Rad. She is recognized as one of the best actresses in cinema, and this behavior reflects her professionalism.
Mohsen Roozbehani, the special effects designer of the film, mentioned that the quality of the special effects in Duel is more advanced than many global works. He emphasizes that 80 percent of Saving Private Ryan includes visual effects, while Duel had no visual effects at all.
The screenplay of this film also faced challenges, but with the support of Mohsen Rezaei, the then Minister of Defense, the film was made. This story of Saeed Rad's return and its controversies highlights the complexities of Iranian cinema and the challenges faced by its actors.
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