Masters and Masterpieces of Iranian Cinema

This book is narrated around 15 of the best Iranian filmmakers of the past half-century and takes a close look at both their lives and their greatest works. In this vivid account, the author explains how -- despite the censorship of both the Pahlavi monarchy and the Khomeini Islamic Republic -- the creativity of these filmmakers has transcended national and cultural borders. He explores the rise and ascendancy of Iranian cinema in the more general context of modern Iranian intellectual history. He delves into the roots of Iranian cinema in Persian poetry and fiction and examines ways in which a rich cinematic tradition has been nourished. The book also studies the role that prominent film festivals have played in fostering the global success of Iranian cinema and it investigates the reception of these films within Iran, an intriguing story in its own right.