Iranian Cinema and the Islamic Revolution

In spite of international award-winning productions, Iran’s cinema is underexposed. Because of the prevailing religious, political and social atmosphere in Iran, the country’s cinema remained stagnant for more than 50 years. Although the “new” Iranian cinema had begun to develop before the 1979 revolution, the political changes gave rise to a new wave of expression.
This volume examines the two waves of modern Iranian cinema: before and after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The first began about 1969, and the second started in 1984 and carried its momentum through 1997. Topics discussed include the effect of cultural mores on cinematic growth, the development of Iranian cinema as a reaction against commercial cinema and the effect of politics on the film industry. Foreign influence (largely American and Indian) on Iranian films is also examined. Critical sources used are primarily Persian to give the reader a culturally inclusive view of each production. Specific films discussed include Fickle, The Cow, Mud-brick and Mirror, Captain Khorshid and Downpour. A chapter-by-chapter filmography is included.

Shahla Mirbakhtyar studied theatre and cinema at Tehran University and The Australian National University where she earned a Master of Philosophy in Film Studies. An actress in Iranian Cinema, she had leading roles in many feature films including The Inner Beast, The Autumn of Sahra, The Silky Chains and The Redwind.

Shahla Mirbakhtyar

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 210
Bibliographic Info: 51 photos, notes, filmography, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2285-2
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0983-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1
Introduction: Early Iranian Cinema      5
1. The Development of the Commercial Film Industry      21
2. The Pioneers of the New Cinema      39
3. The New Cinema Before the Revolution      50
4. The New Cinema After the Revolution      100
5. Rising from the Fire of the Revolution: The Resurgence of the New Wave      158
Notes      167
Filmography      175
Bibliography      189
Index      193

“Well-documented…a very user-friendly, condensed, and stimulating tool for both students and film enthusiasts”—Journal of Shi’a Islamic Studies