A devastating tragedy puts a labourer on a collision course with the authorities in this gripping miniseries from Iranian director Houman Seyyedi (World War III).
Davood (Javad Ezati) is a man with many responsibilities. We first meet him as he attempts to broker a truce between his fellow labourers and the owner of the mine where they work, seeking to avoid further lost wages and an escalation into violence. His aging parents depend on him, even as they pester him to marry and sell a parcel of underutilized land Davood is determined to keep. After a particularly long day of pressures at work and home, Davood is thrust into an unimaginable tragedy.
Driving along a narrow path beside a train line, Davood spots two children walking. He slows down and invites them into his car for a ride home, gently admonishing the older sister and her younger brother for walking along such a dangerous route alone. As he scolds them for their poor judgement, including getting into the car of a stranger, Davood is unaware of the growing panic in the backseat, as the girl is overcome with fear. When she takes sudden action to protect herself and her brother, a devastating turn of events unfolds, thrusting Davood into a life he does not recognize.
From Iranian director Houman Seyyedi (World War III), this riveting series depicts an ordinary man facing an escalating succession of unimaginable choices. With a mix of guilt, despair, and an unshakable will to survive, Davood’s journey in The Savage asks us how far we might go to preserve some sense of self, and some version of freedom.
GEOFF MACNAUGHTON
Screenings
Scotiabank 7
TIFF Lightbox 2
Scotiabank 6