Selected for the twenty second Hong Kong Asian Film Finance Forum, The Echo of the Leopard showcases the mixed abilities of Hanna Djalali and Moeinouddin Djalali, who’re based mostly in each Ukraine and Iran.
The filmmakers are graduates of the Kiev State IK Karpenko-Kali Theater, Film and Television University. They have beforehand collaborated on a number of acclaimed brief movies, together with “After” (2016), “Interview” (2020), and “Freaking Awesome Life” (2022).
In this film set in Iran, a sequence of mysterious disappearances of feminine hikers happen within the mountains. While police examine a serial killer, native residents suspect a legendary leopard-like creature to be accountable for the disappearances. Bahman, a forest ranger whose father struggles with reminiscence loss, actively prevents locals from looking leopards. Years move, and new case proof emerges exhibiting that Bahman’s father made some remarks to her nurse in regards to the potential burial web site for the sufferer. A journalist theorizes that his father might have inadvertently divulged essential info, and an article linking his father to the incident will throw Bahman’s life into turmoil.
“Animals usually fall sufferer to human superstition, false beliefs, or greed, particularly in small communities with low ranges of training. This provides us the chance to… This gave me the inspiration to make a movie that highlights the ignorance behind such animal abuse. We determined to include mystical parts to boost the ambiance,” the Jalaris instructed Variety.
“The concern revolves round an absence of mutual understanding between people, an inclination to carry somebody accountable solely based mostly on their relationship to the actual perpetrator. In sure conditions, like in our story, this will result in a person being ostracized from his or her group and in the end result in the destruction of his or her life,” the Jalalis added.
The ongoing battle in Ukraine types a robust backdrop for the occasions of the movie. “Originally, we had been planning to set the film’s timeline within the early 2000s. However, we lately determined to maneuver it to 1994, which is the yr Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons and obtained safety in return. This choice permits us to include tv and radio information updates on this essential occasion, thereby exposing our viewers to essential features of the background behind the present Ukraine conflict. It will probably be revealed,” the Jalali faction mentioned.
The movie’s price range was $529,000, of which $77,000 was raised. Jalaris goals to draw co-producers, distributors and financiers from Hong Kong.
Produced by Moeinoddin Jalali and Hanna Jalali