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Tag Archives: Iranian film
Crimson Gold (2003); Director: Jafar Panahi
Crimson Gold opens with a stick-up at a jewelry store. The camera is placed inside the dark store, and through its point of view we can see out onto the sunny street beyond. We see the little old jeweler come … Continue reading
Jafar Panahi’s release: “A moral victory”
Geoffrey Cheshire, expert in Iranian cinema, writes a great piece about the release of Jafar Panahi. It just so happens that Panahi’s imprisonment coincided with the Cannes Film Festival (although there may be more than coincidence at work here). If … Continue reading
Jafar Panahi to be released on bail
The latest. I’m so happy to hear this. More here. Apparently he is going to be released today.
The Circle (2000); Director: Jafar Panahi
Jafar Panahi‘s 2000 film The Circle is a shattering piece of work portraying the restrictions on the lives of women in Iran. It won Best Picture at the Venice Film Festival that year. Panahi’s most recent project was 2006’s Offside, … Continue reading
“To put that scenario in its proper context, compare the regime’s blackout of Mr. Panahi’s films in Iran to the klieg-lit response of the outside film world:”
An overview of the Jafar Panahi situation, a very nice opinion piece (and I’m not just saying that because the writer linked to me.)
Binoche and Kiarostami
Great interview from Cannes with Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami about his latest film, Certified Copy, starring, among others, Juliette Binoche. I loved this part: My next film is going to be a road movie too. In my film Ten on … Continue reading
Posted in Directors
Tagged Abbas Kiarostami, Certified Copy, Iran, Iranian film, Jafar Panahi, Juliette Binoche
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“Finally, I swear upon what I believe in, the cinema: I will not cease my hunger strike until my wishes are satisfied.” – Jafar Panahi
Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who was invited to be on the jury at Cannes, is obviously not present, due to his imprisonment. A chair has been left open for him at Cannes, a clear statement of solidarity and support of … Continue reading
The Greatest Rock Bands in the World: No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009); Dir: Bahman Ghobadi
A couple of years ago, I read an article about a girl group in Saudi Arabia, and was blown away by these young women, trying to do their thing in an unbelievably oppressive atmosphere. Their parents support them, although they … Continue reading
Free Jafar Panahi
News not looking good on the Jafar Panahi front. He was arrested on March 1, and has been in prison ever since. His wife has been quite vocal about his heart condition, and also that she has been denied access … Continue reading
Offside at BAM; Dir. Jafar Panahi
Last night I met my friend Felicia at BAM to see Offside, directed by incarcerated Iranian director (there hasn’t been word of him in a couple of weeks). It is part of their Muslim Voices: The Female Perspective. I have … Continue reading