Iranian Cinema: Inspiring Global Film Narratives
Why Iranian Cinema Captivates International Audiences
Iranian cinema is recognized as one of the most influential and respected artistic movements in global filmmaking. It is characterized by a blend of realism, of poetic storytelling, and humanism, and has been acclaimed by critics and audiences all around the world. From its beginnings to its current status in international cinema, Iranian films continue to shape global narratives, offering an interesting understanding of Iran and its culture.
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The Birth of Iranian Cinema
Cinema first started in Iran in 1900, when the king Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, fascinated by the moving pictures he saw in Paris, brought motion picture equipment back to Persia. Shortly after, Iran’s first cinema, “Cinema Soleil,” opened in Tabriz, and public screenings started in Tehran in 1904. The next year, the country had its first movie theater, introducing cinema as a new and important part of the urban life.
At first, Iranian cinema was mostly depicting documentary recordings of royal ceremonies and public events. But with new technology and new ideas, the narrative storytelling started to develop, mostly influenced by theater and literature.
The Iranian New Wave
It’s in the 1960s that was born the Iranian New Wave, a movement which marked a revolutionary shift in Iran’s cinema. Before that, most movies were rather melodramatic, following the style of classical Persian theater. But the New Wave introduced social realism, bold techniques, and a focus on the complexities of modern life which was revolutionary for the time.
The movement started with the Serpent’s Skin directed in 1964 by Hajir Darioush and became immensely popular with The Cow, one of Iranian cinema’s classics, directed by Darius Mehrjui in 1969. The movie tells the story of a middle-aged farmer’s emotional bond with his cow, which is his most valuable property. It conveys several psychological and sociological messages, reflecting Karl Marx’s theory of social alienation.
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Other important films of the Iranian New Wave are Masoud Kimiai’s Qeysar (1969) and Nasser Taqvai’s Tranquility in the Presence of Others (1972). Other New Wave directors like Forough Farrokhzad, Bahram Beizai, and Sohrab Shahid Saless created innovative storytelling, with poetic imagery and political messages, to explore the themes of identity, social justice, and existentialism.
Minimalism and Realism of Iranian Cinema
From the New Wave to nowadays cinema, Iranian films are famous for their minimalist style, which emphasizes on authenticity and emotional depth. Iranian directors often use natural settings, sometimes non-professional actors, and simple dialogues to create intimate and powerful narratives. This approach aims at connecting the audience with the characters and their struggles.
Movies like Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry, and Majid Majidi’s Children of Heaven, both directed in 1997, are among the best examples of this singular aesthetic and quest to finding beauty in everyday life.
Iranian War Cinema
The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) also influenced the Iranian cinema, creating a new genre of war films. Far from being action movies, these cinematographic productions mainly focus on the emotional and societal impact of the conflict that caused many deaths on both camps. First dominated by propagandist ideas glorifying the war and nationalism, it eventually evolved toward a more nuanced and humanistic narrative.
Films like Khosrow Sinai’s In the Alleys of Love (1990) are famous for their poetic and personal approach, focusing on the human cost of war rather than its heroic aspects. Iranian war cinema often uses the themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the strength of ordinary people.
Women in Iranian Cinema
Women are particularly active in Iranian cinema, which has provided a platform to challenge the norms and redefine their roles both on and off the screen. Iran counts many women directors and had, over the last two decades, a higher percentage of women directors than most countries in the West. Famous women directors are Samira Makhmalbaf, Tahmineh Milani, Marjane Satrapi, along others. Samira Makhmalbaf gained international recognition when she was just 20 years old, winning the Cannes Jury Prize for her first movie The Blackboard, in 2000.
Iranian actresses also are internationally acclaimed. The famous actress Golshifteh Farahani was the first Iranian actress nominated for a César. Zar Amir Ebrahimi won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her role Holy Spider in 2022, while Leila Hatami earned the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for her performance in A Separation (2011) and Taraneh Alidoosti won the Leopard for Best Actress at the Locarno Film Festival for I’m Taraneh 15 (2022).
Modern Iranian Cinema
Since the 1990s, critics often mention Iranian cinema as one of the world’s most important national cinemas, with Iranian films consistently being present at major international festivals. Among the most famous movies acclaimed abroad is Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1997.
This introspective film follows a man considering suicide, and thus examines the themes of life, death, and existential freedom in a very subtle and gentle way. Kiarostami’s poetic and minimalist style, where each frame feels like a piece of art, opened the door for Iranian cinema on the world stage, establishing his status as one of the most influential directors of his time.
Another important achievement for modern Iranian cinema came in 2011 with Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, the first Iranian film to win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This family drama displays a couple’s separation and the ethical dilemmas they face. Asghar Farhadi’s ability to capture human complexity continued with another famous work, The Salesman, released in 2016 and winning an Oscar.
Other directors like Jafar Panahi and Majid Majidi have also left a significant mark. Jafar Panahi’s The Circle (2000) and Taxi (2015) are critics of the societal injustices in Iran. On the other hand, Majid Majidi’s films, such as Children of Heaven (1997) and The Color of Paradise (1999), have moved the audience with their stories about childhood, innocence, and spirituality, which shows the humanist side of Iranian cinema.
Iranian Cinema Legacy
The strength of Iranian cinema lies in its simplicity, where small moments reveal larger truths about the human nature. Famous directors worldwide, including Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, have praised Iranian films for their artistic value, often naming Kiarostami’s work as an example of cinema’s ability to transcend language and cultural barriers.
Iranian cinema’s legacy is one of resilience and creativity. Despite facing censorship, political challenges, and limited resources, Iranian filmmakers continue to create films that are deeply rooted in Iranian culture while speaking to the universal human emotions and experiences.
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