Understanding Iran Through Iranian Film

Because of the current nature of US relations with Iran, Americans tend to have a very blurred and unrealistic view of Iranian culture as a whole. Taking the time to actually explore the arts of Iran can help to subside that however. For me, some of the most beautiful and thought provoking films to be released recently have been Iranian films. The elegance in which Iranian directors are taking on societal issues is truly remarkable. While the number of quality Iranian films are too numerous to list here, I do have two major recommendations in helping one to (1) come to an appreciation of the greatness of Iranian film and (2) come to a greater understanding of Iranian culture as a whole. Perhaps the Iranian director that is most respected and the most highly regarded in the film community is Abbas Kiarostami, and perhaps his most critically acclaimed film is his 1997 masterpiece Taste of Cherry. The characters that emerge throughout the film are truly symbolic of a very multi-faceted Iranian society. The topic of gender issues in Iran has been a controversial topic since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. For me, Jafar Pahani's 2006 film Offside does an excellent job of tackling this issue in a very creative way, through the world of football (soccer). Trailers for both films can be viewed below.