“American Wrestler: The Wizard” Early Reviews are Very Good #proudpersian #americanwrestler #wrestling #iranianwrestler #diaspora #iranian In “American Wrestler,” he even plays Ali’s uncle, who teaches the boy some important lessons about winning and losing. Ali was an outstanding wrestler and set numerous school records. “People are talking about some of these same issues again, in a whole new way. “Wrestling is tough, but you have to commit,” he goes on. The film follows a 17-year-old Iranian boy Ali Jahani, played by George Kosturos, in the 1980s who flees from Iran at the time… Afshar’s now, among other things car-related, the actor and producer of the movie, American Wrestler. [6][7], In 2005, Ashkani recovered from an Olympic setback to flourish his wrestling career with two more medals. In this inspiring tale, 17-year-old Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he stands out as different in an unwelcoming community. [5] Ashkani lost two opening matches each to Cuba's Roberto Monzón (1–4) and Turkey's Şeref Tüfenk (1–3), but stunned the home crowd to tame Greek wrestler Christos Gikas with a 1–6 verdict at the end of the prelim pool. In the film, Casa Grande High School’s name is changed to East Petaluma High School, and the town itself is mentioned by name several times. Rejected by everyone but determined to fit in, he joins the school’s floundering wrestling team. Ali Ashkani Aghbolagh (Persian: علی اشکانی آق بلاغ; born November 16, 1978) is a retired amateur Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler and currently coach of Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling, who competed in the men's lightweight category. But it ends up being very positive, leaving Petaluma looking pretty good. American Wrestler: The Wizard is a 2016 American sports biographical film directed by Alex Ranarivelo.The film centers around the world of competitive high school wrestling and stars George Kosturos as Ali Jahani, a 17–year old who escapes Iran in the 1980s after the Iran hostage crisis and must adjust to life in a small California town only to face more hostility in … Ashkani reached sporting headlines at the 2000 Asian Wrestling Championships in Seoul, South Korea, where he won his first title in the 58-kg division over Uzbekistan's Dilshod Aripov. I mean, you can imagine what I'm putting my body through to cut that weight; so, out of respect for the process, if you're afraid to fight me, tell me now. [4] Determined to return to the wrestling scene and medal, Ashkani emerged himself as a top medal favorite at the 2002 Asian Games in South Korea, but lost to Kazakhstan's Nurlan Koizhaiganov in the quarterfinal match 4–1. “It’s a good message for right now,” he says. An inspiring tale based on true events, 17-year-old Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he stands out as different in an unwelcoming community. “But ultimately, we wanted to put a positive spin on it. In a decree dated 24 February 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini, the … Ali Jahani. Ali Afshar has led an interesting, yet a very inspirational life story to this point. You are looking at the most comprehensive list of deceased wrestlers in existence. After his first Olympics, Ashkani proved particularly successful in his career with two more medals in both 58 and 60-kg division at the Asian Championships (2001 and 2003). Living with his embittered uncle, the boy faces a mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. Rejected by everyone but determined to fit in, he joins the school’s floundering wrestling team. List a n audition or Job Sign in Join Join/Sign in Auditions & Jobs Talent Directory Discover View Intro to Camera. Afshar admits that, when the film was originally made, he had no idea how timely its message would be when the film was finally released. “I like feel-good movies,” says producer-actor Ali Afshar. Coming back is always a pleasure, and that’s why I keep making my movies there.”. Black History Month. Good things came from what we all went through, eventually.”. I’m Ali Jahani. Some of those other movies made here have yet to be released, including “Running Wild,” starring Sharon Stone, and “Ride,” featuring Ludacris. “Yes, some of the high school stuff is what my brothers went through, and all the wrestling stuff is what I went through,” Afshar says. Rejected by everyone but determined to fit in, he joins the school’s floundering wrestling team. It's 1980, the midst of the Iran hostage crisis. Ali Ashkani Aghbolagh (Persian: علی اشکانی آق بلاغ ; born November 16, 1978) is a retired amateur Iranian Greco-Roman wrestler and currently coach of Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling, who competed in the men's lightweight category. Living with his embittered uncle, the boy faces a mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. “I like taking difficult situations, and putting a positive spin on them, showing how a loss can be turned into a win. Ali Jahani is a director and actor, known for Dark Horses (2017), You, Me & Karen (2017) and Subject 36 (2017). Both were in the Springstowne Wrestling Academy in Vallejo, which hosted the film with a visit from Ali Afshar, the real-life wrestler and writer of “American Wrestler… I was good at it. With a laugh, he adds, “I think that’s what it’s going to be called, anyway. Rowan Knox : I'm suckin' down to 126. Determined to fit in, he joins the school's floundering wrestling team. That’s why I keep coming back to make movies there.”. A few months later, Ashkani entered the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney as a dark horse in the men's featherweight category (58 kg). Earlier in the process, he finished third at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to guarantee his spot on the Iranian wrestling team. That’s all I can say right now, but it’s going to really good, I think.”. “In this inspiring tale based on true events, 17-year-old Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he stands out as different in an unwelcoming community. It was a tough time to be an Iranian living in small town America, with emotions pushed to a breaking point, and violence not uncommon. WWE SmackDown Superstar Natalya believes Cesaro is not only “the greatest professional wrestler in the world” but is in a league of his own when compared to his contemporaries. “The sequel will be called, “American Wrestler: the Fighter,”” Afshar says. "American…” Petaluma is the town I call home, I’m very fond of it. Fathom Events and Warner Bros. Entertainment presents an inspiring tale based on true events, American Wrestler: The Wizard, making its cinematic debut across the country for one night only on May 3. Directed by Alex Ranavirello, from a script by Brian Rudnick, it’s the story of 17-year-old Ali (George Kosturos), a refugee from Iran, who’s viewed with suspicion by the populace of the small California town his family takes refuge in. Living with his embittered uncle, the boy faces a mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. He reaped the men's 60-kg title over South Korea's Kim Keum-Hae at the Summer Universiade in Izmir, Turkey, and then picked up a silver medal from the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, losing out to defending titleholder Armen Nazaryan of Bulgaria due to a three-caution violation by the referee. That’s what “American Wrestler” is all about.”. Of recreating his memoif being a young wrestler, Afshar says making the movie was an emotional experience, all the more so because he filmed in the same places where those memopries took place. He dominated the field by thrashing Hungary's István Majoros (1–5) and Georgia's Koba Guliashvili in the prelim pool to secure his place in the next round of the tournament. Because it wasn’t all bad. Throughout his sporting career, Ashkani trained full-time for Takhti Wrestling Club in Ardabil under his coach and mentor jafar Damirchi. Younger audiences, he allows, will certainly be too young to remember that time, though he points out that his film is not the first movie to be set during the Iran Hostage Crisis. Ali Afshar and his family escaped the Iranian Revolution, emigrating to Northern California while they were still able. Ali : Yeah, I know who you are. [8][9], "Sydney 2000: Wrestling – Bantamweight Greco-Roman (58kg)", "Iranians shining in Asian wrestling events", "Olympic Games preview at 60 kg/132 lbs. Mehdi Ali Hosseini, 29, was arrested in 2015 and charged with murder following a group brawl. In this inspiring tale, 17-year-old Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he stands out as different in an unwelcoming community. ‘American Wrestler' to debut nationally in May. The wrestler’s name is Alidad Garahasnaloo Jahani, though he prefers to be called “Ali” and quickly earns the nickname “wizard” for the sheer speed with which he … Celebrating our Diverse History & Inspiring the Next Generation. After high school, Ali turned his attention to his dream of acting and relocated to Los Angeles. After appearing in town at an “American Wrestler” red-carpet event at Boulevard Cinemas on May 3, Afshar will returning three week’s later to shoot the movie’s sequel, with filming planned for six weeks in June and July. Humble soldier of cinema. The Courts . Iowa Flashes Starter, Middle Relief, Closer in Rout of Illini Wrestling / February 1, 2021 Iowa Flashes Starter, Middle Relief, Closer in … “It’s the story of almost any kid moving to a new town in a new area. Facing certain death on the front lines of the Iran-Iraq War, 17 year-old Ali Jahani is smuggled out of Iran and sent to live with his uncle in the small Northern California town of Petaluma. Unlike his previous Games, Ashkani's performance was not enough to advance him to the quarterfinals, placing eleventh in the final standings. Wrestling taught me a lot of lessons I’ve kept through life. Asked if the film’s early scenes of bullying could make Petaluma of the 1980s look like a rough place to grow up, Afshar laughs again. Inspired by the “True Story” of Wrestler Ali Jahani coming to a theater near you! NCAA Wrestling Champion Simon Roberts. In this inspiring tale based on true events, young Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he joins the school’s floundering wrestling team for a … Afshar, who grew up in Petaluma in the 1980s, has made six movies here over the last two years, and “American Wrestler: The Wizard” - filmed in April of 2015, picked up by Warner Bros., and set for a special, one-day-only “event” release at theaters across the country - is, in many ways, one of the most autobiographical films Afshar has made. If you’re looking for only the most well known guys, we’ve put those on this page here, along with bios, photos and videos.. Make sure to also check out our list of deceased wrestling managers and personalities.. Last updated: 6/30/2018 • About this list • Summarized data from this list … LONDON: The Iranian regime is set to execute a second wrestler just months after it hanged champion athlete Navid Afkari amid international pleas for clemency. “I will always think of it fondly, and think of it as my home. I made the Varsity team in my freshman year. Like other films of its kind (“Karate Kid,” “Footloose”), the challenges mount, and the toughest fight Ali must face is the one he’s fighting against his own fears. Living with his embittered uncle, the boy faces a mountain of adversity everywhere he turns. Determined to fit in, he joins the school's floundering wrestling team and defines his place in … “If you saw the movie “Argo,” then you’ll know what this is about,” he says. Things change all the time in this businesses, so we’ll see. Ali Jahani, Writer: Dark Horses. Server Administrator & Web Developer with over 5 years of experience specializing in front end development. Born in the country of Iran, he and his family fled the country during the political turmoil of the late 1970s, settling in the City of Petaluma, California, which is located in Sonoma County (Petaluma is also home of several filming sites used for the 1970s hit movie, American Graffiti). Iranian wrestler Mehdi Ali Hosseini. Fontes filed this report, Ali, The Wizard. [1] He won four Asian Championship medals (three golds and one silver), picked up a silver in the 60-kg division at the 2005 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and represented Iran in two editions of the Olympic Games (2000 and 2004), finishing fifth in Sydney and eleventh in Athens respectively. Afshar mentions his appreciation for the support of Petaluma businesses and City Hall, and for Forrest Lucas, the oil magnate whose financial support has allowed him to make his films his own way. I think it’s a good time for this movie to come out.”. Photos, videos, physical attributes and credits & experience of Ali Jahani - Filmmaker, Actor and Extra based in Victoria, Australia. You can’t blame the quarterback, you can’t blame the point guard. There’s no one to blame if you lose. Directed by Alex Ranarivelo. With a … In 1980, a teenage boy escapes the unrest in Iran only to face more hostility in America, due to the hostage crisis. If you lose, you take that on yourself and you learn from it - so that the next time, you win.”, (E-mail David at david.templeton@arguscourier.com), red-carpet event at Boulevard Cinemas on May 3. At school, he talks his way onto the wrestling team despite the doubts of the coach (William Fichtner) and the hard-as-nails principal (Jon Voight), and becomes known as “the wizard” for the startling speed with which he can pin opponents. “In high school, I was too small to play football, so that’s why I got into wrestling. In the immediate aftermath of the 11 February 1979 Revolution, an ad hoc tribunal, initially referred to as the Extraordinary Revolutionary Tribunal, was set up to try the officials of the previous regime, for which no specific procedures were devised. Afshar says that some of the abuse that Ali encounters in the film came directly from what his older brothers experienced back then. “Win or lose, you have to give it your all. “I love Petaluma,” he says. In the new film, the Ali character goes to college, and gets involved with some underground “Fight Club” kind of scenarios. A teenage boy adjusting to life in a new town combats the disapproval and scorn of his uncle, his classmates and his neighbors when he joins his school's floundering wrestling team, … “I like taking difficult situations, and … Feature photo: Ali Afshar (Actor/Producer/CA Wrestler) with CA State Editor, Al Fontes “Coach Al” at the 2017 CIF State Championships in … Ashkani lost the quarterfinal match to eventual silver medalist Kim In-Sub of South Korea with a powerful 3–1 decision, but bounced back to turn down U.S. wrestler Jim Gruenwald on the mat 3–2 for a fifth-place finish.[2][3]. His diligence paid off and made him a California State Finalist in 1991. Anyone coming from Iran at that time would be familiar with what we show in this film.”. 41 Likes, 1 Comments - TheDastanProject (@thedastanproject) on Instagram: “Inspired by the "True Story" of Wrestler Ali Jahani coming to a theater near you! The front page of every newspaper has images of blindfolded hostages or Iranians burning American flags. The film is set during the Iran hostage crisis, when nearly 60 Americans were held hostage in Tehran for 444 days. In this inspiring tale based on true events, 17-year-old Ali Jahani is a newcomer to a small California town, where he stands out as different in an unwelcoming community. Free Download And Play Persian Music © Design by WikiSeda Start in 2011 . “?‘American Wrestler’ starts out a little tough, because that’s how it was,” says Afshar, speaking from his home in Hollywood. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Ashkani qualified for his second Iranian squad, as a 25-year-old, in the men's 60 kg class. 4x CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONS 4x CALIFORNIA STATE FINALISTS 4x CALIFORNIA STATE PLACERS 3x CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONS 3X CALIFORNIA STATE FINALIST 3x CALIFORNIA STATE PLACERS Richard Figueroa – Selma (CS): 1st, 1st, 1st (2018 – 2020) Tristan Lujan – Selma (CS): 4th, 1st, 1st (2018 – 2020) Maximo Renteria – Buchanan (CS): 1st, 1st, 1st […] Home; About; Contact Us; Online : 1321 ; FA in men's Greco-Roman", "Baroev beats Barzi in semi, Monzon tames Ashkani in Olympics Greco-Roman wrestling", "American Ruiz claims wrestling bronze, Bulgarian golden", "U.S. rules swimming, China dominates diving at Universiade", Profile – International Wrestling Database, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_Ashkani&oldid=978808852, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Persian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 September 2020, at 02:06. Islamic Revolutionary Courts, 11 February 1979-1994 . “It’s a combination of all of my family members’ stories of coming to America, and going through the difficulties of being an Iranian immigrant in the late seventies and early eighties. With George Kosturos, William Fichtner, Ali Afshar, Lia Marie Johnson. The Jerusalem Post reported two weeks ago that the execution of wrestler Mehdi Ali Hosseini was imminent. “I like feel-good movies,” says producer-actor Ali Afshar. The Vallejo screening is a tribute to twin sisters Trinh and Tram Tran, 14, who died Aug. 5 in a house fire. “It was surreal, that’s for sure,” he says. Commit, ” then you ’ ll know what this is about, ” says Ali. Over 5 years of experience specializing in front end development celebrating our Diverse History & Inspiring the Next Generation fondly! 444 days an outstanding Wrestler and set numerous school records this is about, ” ” Afshar says through eventually.! 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