The Salesman (2016 film) make a film until he decided his protagonists should be stage actors. Part of this decision owed to Farhadi's own background in the theatre, and his desire to re-immerse himself in that atmosphere. He also felt actors had to think of themselves as other people and create empathy, and his male protagonist would be forced to feel empathy for another man. Looking for a play within the film, Farhadi researched the work of Jean-Paul Sartre and Henrik Ibsen before finding Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman", which he described as "a gift for me". In Miller's play and his script,
The Salesman (2016 film) "The Hollywood Reporter" summarized the film as "Masterful particularly in the finale, but not so readily engaging." "Time Out" critic Dave Calhoun gave the film three of five stars, dissatisfied with the ending. The film was supported by Iranian social media users, and after its screening and two awards at Cannes, some government officials and politicians congratulated Farhadi. However, conservatives accused the film of "Siahnamayi" (disparaging Iran). In "The New York Times", A.O. Scott wrote it was not initially clear why "Death of a Salesman" was selected, but Willy Loman's presence soon became felt, and favourably compared the use of