Iranian Cinema
Iran's film culture has been transformed since the Islamic revolution: from the state propaganda films to today's socially critical productions. We take a look at the various facets and examine its resonance in the West.
Iranian Cinema
Cinema in Iran
The Calm before the Storm?
It's not that long since Iranian cinema was famous for its innovation, winning international prizes across the board. But now the buzz about the Iranian film industry has died down, both in the West and in the Islamic Republic itself. Amin Farzanefar considers the state of Iranian film past and present More »
The Iranian Filmmaker Kamal Tabrizi
Should One Be Allowed to Laugh at Mullahs?
"It used to be that religious figures enjoyed a special place in the hearts of Iranians, otherwise the revolution would never have taken place," recalls the popular Iranian filmmaker Kamal Tabrizi. "Yet, today this trust has been undermined." Charlotte Wiedemann met with this uncompromising film director More »
Asghar Farhadi's "About Elly"
Who Knows the Truth?
For years, Iranian films have been regarded as a hot tip at the Berlin International Film Festival. This time as well, an Iranian production has managed to convince the Berlinale jury. Asghar Farhadi's gripping social drama "About Elly" was awarded the Silver Bear for best director. By Ariana Mirza More »
Bahman Ghobadi's Film "Half Moon"
Always Searching, Always on the Run
With his fourth film, Kurdish director Bahman Ghobadi oversteps the boundaries of social realism he so carefully defined in his debut, "A Time for Drunken Horses." Amin Farzanefar informs More »
Iranian War Film Comedy
Good-for-Nothings at the Front
In the last few years, Iranian popular cinema has become a bastion of civil opposition with a number of cheeky comedies. A new film, "The Outcasts" by Masud Dehnamaki, takes a particularly sensitive issue as the butt of its jokes: the Iran-Iraq war. By Amin Farzanefar More »
Jafar Panahi's "Offside"
Protected from the Profanities of the Bellowing Fans
The Iranian film "Offside" is about a group of girl soccer fans who smuggle themselves into Tehran's Azadi Stadium, despite the ban on women spectators. Ariana Mirza presents Offside and its director Jafar Panahi More »
Interview with Director Petr Lom
The Dictator, My Pen Pal
Critics complain that with Letters to the President, director Petr Lom has made a propaganda film for a dictator. Speaking in an interview with Igal Avidan, Petr Lom highlights the day-to-day absurdities of cooperating with the Iranian regimeMore »
Marjane Satrapi's "Persepolis"
Stars and Bombs
Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel "Persepolis", about her childhood in Iran and growing up in Europe, made her world famous. The film version is banned in Iran but now showing in cinemas across the globe. Petra Tabeling reports More »
"We Are Half of Iran's Population"
Institutionalised Oppression
In her new documentary film, renowned director Rakhshan Bani-Etemad examines discrimination and legally disadvantaged position of Iranian women and highlights new forms of resistance to the political pressures in the Islamic Republic. By Alessandro Topa More »
Interview with Tahmineh Milani
Between Censorship and a Smash Hit
Her work has been a constant tightrope walk between tradition and emancipation, between freedom and censorship. The Iranian director Tahmineh Milani talks about women directors, their mission, and cinema More »
Rakhshan Bani-Etemad
Filming the Margins of Iranian Society
Rakhshan Bani-Etemad is one of Iran's most prominent – and provocative – filmmakers. She has just finished directing "Mainline", a film about a young Iranian drug addict. Robert Richter reviews Rakhshan Bani-Etemad's film career More »
