Residents of Nowhere, a film produced and directed by Shahab Hosseini, is based on the play Hôtel des Deux Mondes by Franco-Belgian playwright Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt. A drama mystery, it was made in 2017 in Iran, and has had a number of accomplishments in international festivals.
Residents of Nowhere is a story that, in terms of form, can be seen as a type of tele-theater. The film’s atmosphere, type of mise-en-scène, and dialogue-driven narrative bring it closer to the world of the play, which intertwines with a fantastical situation. Upon watching the film, Schmitt wrote a heartwarming letter to Hosseini:
“I loved this movie from the beginning to the end! Besides being faithful to my original text, both from a philosophical and a dramatic perspective, I admired the acting and the scenic designs that created a metaphysical atmosphere and conveyed powerful emotions, all of which was created through simple, yet refined means. I feel completely connected to its director, Shahab Hosseini.”
In response to Schmitt’s letter, Hosseini said:
“The most wonderful thing about this movie is the note Mr. Schmitt wrote after watching the film.”
The story of Residents of Nowhere is about a young man who has had an accident and suddenly finds himself in a strange guesthouse whose location is unknown. As he reflects more on the people there or those who come and go, he eventually realizes that he is in a place between life and death, in a space with no time, between two worlds, between the earth and the sky.
Iranian actors Parinaz Izadiar, Arman Davish, Nahid Musalemi, Ahmad Saatchatian, Ghazaleh Nazar, Mehdi Hosseini, Tani Avakian, and Shahab Hosseini play in this film.
Additional Crew
Director of Photography: Ali Ghazi
Editors: Shahab Hosseini and Shahram Ebrahimi
Line Producer: Shahram Zahedi
Set Designer: Payam Eskandari and Shahab Hosseini
Makeup Artist: Seyed Jalal Mousavi
Costume Designer: Zhaleh Zaki-Zadeh
Sound Recordist: Mohammad Mokhtari
Sound Mixing: Hossein Ghorchian
Assistant Directors: Alireza Nesaii and Hossein Iraji
Script Supervisor: Roohangiz Shams
Set Manager: Reza Hassanvand
Photographer: Noushin Jafari
Special Effects: Arash Aghabeig
