Parallel Tales
Upcoming French film by Asghar Farhadi
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Parallel Tales (French: Histoires Parallèles) is a 2026 French-language drama film produced and directed by Asghar Farhadi, co-written with Massoumeh Lahidji, and loosely based on Krzysztof Kieślowski's Dekalog: Six.[2] Starring an ensemble cast that includes Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney and Adam Bessa,[3] it follows Sylvie (Huppert), a famous author seeking inspiration on the neighbors across the street, who hires the mysterious Adam (Bessa) as assistant, but he quickly turns her life upside down.[4]
- Asghar Farhadi
- Massoumeh Lahidji
Krzysztof Kieślowski
and Krzysztof Piesiewicz
| Parallel Tales | |
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French release poster | |
| French | Histoires Parallèles |
| Directed by | Asghar Farhadi |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | Dekalog: Six by Krzysztof Kieślowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Guillaume Deffontaines |
| Edited by | Hayedeh Safiyari |
| Music by | Zbigniew Preisner |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 140 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | French |
| Budget | €11 million[1] |
The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 14 May,[5] and was theatrically released in France on the same day by Memento Films.[4]
Cast
- Isabelle Huppert as Sylvie[6]
- Virginie Efira as Anna / Nita
- Vincent Cassel as Pierre / Nicolas
- Pierre Niney as Christophe / Théo
- Adam Bessa as Adam
- Catherine Deneuve
- India Hair
Production
Development
Following the Islamic Revolutionary Guard decision to force the use of hijabs in film and television productions, Farhadi had announced that he would not direct any new film in Iran until the ban is lifted.[7] He had already directed two feature films outside his home country: 2013's The Past (set in France, following the Iranian diaspora) and 2018's Everybody Knows (set in Spain).
In April 2025, it was announced Farhadi would direct his 10th feature film, and his second French language production in Paris in the fall, starring Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, Adam Bessa, and Catherine Deneuve joining the cast.[8][9]
Cassel revealed in an interview with the newspaper La Tribune, that the film would follow the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks.[10][11] In early 2026, Polish executive producer Maciej Musiał confirmed that the film will be loosely based on Krzysztof Kieślowski's Dekalog: Six, while adaptations for the series other nine episodes were in different stages of production.[12] In April, alongside the trailer, the film's official poster confirmed the adaptation.[4]
A co-production involving France, the United States, Belgium and Italy. Co-produced by the French company Memento Films Production and the US-based Anonymous Content. It was also financed by the French Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC).[13]
Filming
Principal photography began on 8 September 2025, shooting on location in Paris,[14] and wrapped by early December.[15] Guillaume Deffontaines was the director of photography. Farhadi recurrent collaborator Iranian editor Hayedeh Safiyari will handle the editing.[15]
Release
It had world premiere at the main competition of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival on 14 May,[16] followed by its theatrical released in France on the same day.[4]