Trust cinema Tina Jalali wrote in Etamad newspaper:
Soroush Sahet’s latest production called “Breakfast with Giraffes” is being shown in the country’s cinemas these days. The film has well-known actors such as Bahram Radan, Pejman Jamshidi, Hoten Shakiba, Hadi Hijazifar and Bijan Banafsehkhah, and its story is about several friends who encounter a surprising event on the wedding night of one of them, and this subject faces a difficult test. They put “Breakfast with Giraffes” in continuation of Sehat’s work has a comedic and joyful atmosphere, but it is not limited to mere happiness and invites the audience to think and reflect while watching the film. In this film, the director talks about the difference in people’s views and shows how each of them deals with the problem that has arisen for them, but in the end he says that despite the differences, if there is forgiveness among people, many problems and problems will be prevented. Sehat says: I think people can live together more easily with a little flexibility, restraint and forgiveness, unless the reasons for the difference of opinion are fundamental and the roots of the difference are deep. Our conversation with Soroush Sehat is in front of you.
It seems that you follow a certain philosophy in your creations, especially in your three recent works, “The World Dances With Me” and “How Many Springs Are There in My Life” and the movie “Breakfast with Giraffes”. Such a look is more expressive, what do you think?
I think most people in this world have a world view. Without worldview in this big world, human being is dumb and confused. Honestly, when we have a worldview, we often get confused and don’t know what to do, let alone not having a specific attitude. In my opinion, worldview is like a light that lights up one’s feet, but without a doubt, over time, our view of the world will change, just like ourselves. Some things are added to one’s worldview and some things are removed, and sometimes our view of certain categories changes completely.
What is your philosophy? A kind of treacherous look of “taking the tail as booty” dominates your films in general. What is your intellectual world about?
I can’t really give a name or explain it with one sentence, but everything I have seen, heard and read has influenced me and the result of these influences and thoughts has formed my worldview. A worldview in which I have been influenced by many elders. From Khayyam and Hafez and Saadi and Molavi to the Chinese Taoist Ching.
It seems that you follow a kind of minimalist look in your creations; do you agree
I don’t know what his name is; But the works of me and Iman Safai in recent years are the result of our way of looking at life in these years.
Where do your stories come from? Where do the stories you choose for your series or movies come from?
This is where we live. From my and Iman Safai’s personal experiences and perceptions. We talk to each other, sometimes we mix our memories or those around us and a story is made. If we see a movie or read a book or have a society that has an effect on us, that effect will enter our view and work. Certainly and without a doubt, the problems and events of the society in which we live are one of our most important sources.
Let’s talk about “breakfast with giraffes”; Could this movie be based on a true story?
No, it actually originates from the same atmosphere that Iman and I love. For example, if there is a friendly group and a problem arises, we would like to see how each of the people in this group deals with the problem, because each person can represent a kind of outlook and way of life, and of course I think that even if people disagree have opinion and taste, with a little flexibility, restraint and forgiveness, they can live together more easily, unless the reasons for the difference of opinion are fundamental and the roots of the difference are deep.
Your audience is divided into two groups, one group likes the movie very much and the other group is opposite, i.e. the interpretation of zero and hundred. Have you noticed these two spectrums?
yes
There is a certain difference between the audience of your film. It was the same about “Dance with me”.
Yes; It was the same about “How many springs are there in a lifetime”, “Shamadani” and even “Bachelors”.
why
I don’t know; Naturally, some people like the world that Iman and I create and communicate with it, and some people don’t like it.
Let’s talk about the structure of your film, which seems to fit the story perfectly and is not improvised. As some agents described, apart from the fact that they liked working with you very much, but you seem like a strict director?
If they said they like working with me, it would be nice. We usually have a lot of fun at work and have a friendly atmosphere. But if they said it was difficult, it’s probably because I’m a little sensitive about the way I deliver dialogues and how many words are used.
Talking about the casting, many people said that you might have chosen the actors on friendship basis, that is, the actors were chosen based on friendship rather than their talent.
I can’t say that this is true, because I use actors who I think have a lot of ability, and of course we become friends after one job, and since they are capable actors, I naturally go to them again. And it makes it look like I’m using my friends.
Critics criticize some of your dialogues; Obviously, they use the term sexual joke. What do you think?
Can you tell me an example?
I personally do not remember such a joke; Maybe it is ambiguous.
See, to tell you the truth, I don’t like direct sex jokes at all, but I use jokes on the screen and multiple sides.
two sides?
Two-sided, three-sided, four-sided, five-sided, the more sides, the better. I like these kinds of jokes, but I really don’t like direct jokes that refer to something, and I hope it wasn’t a case. I think even the multi-faceted jokes should sit in their place and not be forced into the film.
Unfortunately, some people got into the habit of attacking the space of comedy movies. It seems that because it is a comedy, it is bad and…
Their taste must be different. I think different tastes should be respected.
In my opinion, the movie “Breakfast with a Giraffe” and even “The World Dances with Me” are respectable comedies, they are made in a loving way, respect the viewer, have a philosophical point of view, even though it makes the audience laugh, it invites them to think. You can’t use vulgar words about this movie and it shouldn’t be compared with other comedies. When you were making the film, weren’t you worried that it would be compared to other comedies?
No; I wasn’t worried, but the fact that you called my films “Mehrajvivar” means a lot to me and is a great honor.
Your minimalist look reminded me of Abbas Kiarostami’s films.
You are talking about my favorite directors; Mehrjooi and Kiarostami are my mental legends and I love them like crazy and I hope to be influenced by them and reach the feet of these nobles in my work. Iman and I write the script with sensitivity and obsession and try to get help from real life. I think that in life, sadness and happiness, depression and euphoria, success and failure are together. There are moments when a person is sad, but at the same moment, a funny thing happens and he laughs. We use such feelings and moments in our work.
When I was watching the movie, I had this question in my mind: Is it possible that Soroush Sehat is more interested in the world of men?
No, but I am a man by fate and I know the world of men more.
One of the characteristics of your film is that you don’t force laughter from the audience.
I hope so.
Are you talking about this? Do you reach these points during practice? For example, Mr. Hijazi Far’s dark word, even though it was only one word, was accompanied by loud laughter from the audience in the cinema hall.
I am very happy about this point you say. The fact is that we are obsessed with dialogues when writing with faith. And if the audience likes these dialogues, we will definitely be very happy.
Are the jokes based on personal experiences?
A lot of them.
Sir, one of the characteristics of your film is to pay attention to the middle class. It means that the story of your series and movies is about the average people of the society or the average people. Why do you mostly make films about people from the middle class of society? Why do you mean most of this class?
Probably because Iman and I are both members of the same class.
A few days ago, I was reading an article in which the author was worried that Soroush Sehat would not repeat himself in his worksd.
I hope I will not fall into the trap of repetition and I will definitely try.
But your work has a personal signature.
After all, Iman and I write all these works and I make them. It is natural that it originates from a single point of view.
Can you change the genre?
Yes, it is possible; I am thinking of making a series in another genre.
Can you tell us about the audience reception?
I have had very positive feedback. Maybe because those who liked the movie talked to me or sent me messages, and those who didn’t like the movie, out of kindness or kindness, gave me their opinion.
The juxtaposition of several comedies in cinemas is not good and causes damage. Someone asked me why they screened comedy movies on a train? So what is the matter of having breakfast with giraffes for Eid?
Really, these issues are related to the broadcaster and producer of the film, and I don’t know much about it.
You didn’t have an offer?
I am not involved in this, but I hope that good things will happen to all the films.