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Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution

Play trailer Poster for Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution 2006 1h 38m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Iranian films reflect the contemporaneous society and often pre-date social change.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Globe and Mail Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 23, 2006 Full Review Sarah Boslaugh Playback:stl Using a range of sources, Homayoun provides convincing evidence that Iran's success at international film festivals has been no accident Rated: 7/10 Sep 19, 2008 Full Review Duane Dudek Milwaukee Journal Sentinel It's amazing that Iranian film exists at all. But the country's film artists have not only endured, they have, over time, created a world-class cinema whose sensitive and often progressive aesthetic has been produced under duress. Rated: 3/4 May 23, 2008 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice A rounded and robust overview of Iranian cinema and its shifting relationship to the political and religious tides in that country's history and culture. Rated: 3/5 Jun 27, 2007 Full Review Phil Hall Film Threat Valuable for those who want to learn more about this unique corner of global cinema. Rated: 3/5 May 22, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (6) audience reviews
Audience Member This film can serve as a primer to Iranian cinema in general. One can draw a shortlist of Persian classics from here. I have always loved Iranian films for its poignant, almost poetic expressions. It reflects the beauty of Iranian identity. This has been a form of good education for me. And, most importantly, I wasn't bored. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review walter m [font=Century Gothic]"Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution" is a fascinating documentary about the history of Iranian filmmaking, starting with "The Cinema Actor" in 1933. Of special interest are the movies made during the reign of the Shah and the current Islamic Republic and how the directors have dealt with censorship under the two regimes. Strangely enough, the movie treats the current repression kinder(which is ironic considering movie houses were burned when they first came to power), as former government ministers are interviewed along with directors whose films are discussed and clips are shown from. There is also archival footage of the times and momentous events which acts as a background to the main narrative. The Shah wanted an image of Iran as prosperous whereas the Islamic Republic is much more interested in a religious view and especially wants children, nature, Persian poetry and traditional values on display which certainly explains "The Willow Tree." But women need not apply. At the same time, directors possibly influenced by neo-realist films have been interested in showing the Iran they know, especially Bahman Ghobadi who has taken a special interest in Kurdistan.[/font] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member They interviewed a female director and no one even mentioned she was a woman - and we're the ones that don't oppress women! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Not perfect, but a good introduction. I learned a lot about the PRE-new wave films I didn't know of prior. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member It is an excellent documentary! It begins its story by reviewing the beginning of cinema and film industry in Iran, then it covers some of pre-revolution controversial movies and then it moves to tell the story of a cinema in the turmoil of revolution. The movie producers have interviewed a diverse number of Iran's directors; their cast includes great and celebrated names such as Makhmalbaf, Qobadi, Panahi and Hatamikia. This movie is their story, the story of how they made films in 7 minutes intervals between missiles attacks on Tehran and how they created an Iranian genre under the eyes of a censor. If you want to learn something about Iran and its film industry you have to see this movie. It is a must see for everyone. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Even if you are only moderately interested in Iranian cinema, this documentary is worthwhile. I was entirely unaware of the vapid pre-revolutionary films that were produced in bulk during the 60s and 70s. I'd only seen The House is Black and The Cow from this period. Knowing a bit about the current shape of the industry, it's not surprising that these early works were among the few films that were used as models during the early 80s. Say what you will about the rampant censorship and terrible social conditions, but it's fascinating to see a nation's cinematic language derived almost exclusively from the likes of Tarkovsky and Bresson. On a side note, this is as much about the nation's history during the last 80 years as it is about the development of the now thriving national cinema. So, if you're looking for a fairly objective overview of their history-- with a good deal of real footage-- this is worth a look. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Iran: A Cinematographic Revolution

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Iranian films reflect the contemporaneous society and often pre-date social change.
Director
Nader T. Homayoun
Producer
Julie Paratian
Screenwriter
Nader T. Homayoun, Nicolas Bertrand
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
Persian
Runtime
1h 38m