Ramin Bahrani and “Vegas: A Love Story” Filmmaker Ramin Bahrani has built a career around intimate, human-centered stories that explore life on the margins of modern society. Born in North Carolina to Iranian parents and educated at Columbia University, Bahrani emerged in the mid-2000s as one of American cinema’s most distinctive realist voices, drawing comparisons to Italian neorealism for his use of natural performances and lived-in environments. Bahrani first gained international attention with Man Push Cart (2005), followed by Chop Shop (2007) and Goodbye Solo (2008), films that premiered at major festivals including Venice, Cannes, and Sundance and earned widespread critical praise. His work often blurs the line between professional and non-professional actors, creating grounded performances that feel deeply authentic. Over time, his storytelling expanded to larger canvases while maintaining its social bite, most notably with 99 Homes (2015), starring Andrew Garfield, Michael Sh...