Ep1180: IndieSeen: Past Forward: An Interview with "Young Ali" Filmmaker Amir Motlagh
Ian welcomes back filmmaker Amir Motlagh to discuss his 2024 drama, Young Ali: Those Were the Days!
Motlagh co-writes (with Charles Borg), directs, and stars in this slice-of-life look at a middle-aged Iranian-American man grappling with job loss and divorce in the early months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Forced to move back in with his elderly parents, he seeks refuge in old home movies while trying to figure out whether or not he has a future.
In this interview, Ian and Amir dig into the real-life roots of this challenging, heartfelt, and inspiring story, which expands upon similar themes from Motlagh's previous films. From the ins and outs of his scriptwriting collaboration, to capturing the naturalism of family arguments, to finding meaning at the depths of despair--this conversation delves into a movie that speaks not only to a specific moment in time, but to the universality of its rippling after effects.
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Show Links
Watch the Young Ali (2024) trailer.
Sign up for Relay to stream Young Ali!
Keep up with all of Amir's projects at his website.
As mentioned in the show, Amir's dad (who appears in Young Ali) has his own cooking show on YouTube! Dig in to "Cooking with Yousef" (and subscribe while you're at it)!
In 2026, Young Ali will screen as part of Sujewa Ekanayake's 3I/Atlas Film Festival. Stay tuned for dates and more info here.
Support Sujewa's new film project, 53 Spaceships, the latest adventure of Cosmic Disco Detective Rene!
Watch Sujewa's latest film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene for free on YouTube!
Rent The Secret Society for Slow Romance (the predecessor to Cosmic Disco Detective Rene).
Follow Sujewa on X.
Check out all the episodes in our “IndieSeen” Playlist!
