The Politics of Iranian Cinema: Film and Society in the Islamic Republic

by Zeydabadi-nejad; Saeed

• ISBN13: 9780415455374
• ISBN10: 0415455375
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-12-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Iran has undergone considerable social upheaval since the revolution and this has been reflected in its cinema. Drawing on first-hand interviews and detailed ethnographic research, this book explores how cinema is engaged in the dynamics of social change in contemporary Iran. The author not only discusses the practices of regulation and reception of films from major award winning directors but also important mainstream filmmakers such as Hatamikia and Tabizi. Contributing to ethnographic accounts of Iranian governance in the field of culture, the book reveals the complex behind-the-scenes negotiations between filmmakers and the authorities which constitute a major part of the workings of film censorship. The author traces the relationship of Iranian cinema to recent social/political movements in Iran, namely reformism and women "s movement, and shows how international acclaim has been instrumental in filmmakers " engagement with matters of political importance in Iran. This book will be a valuable tool for courses on film and media studies, and will provide a significant insight into Iranian cultural politics for students of cultural studies and anthropology, Middle Eastern and Iranian studies.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. ix
List of tables	p. xi
List of illustrations	p. xii
Introduction	p. 1
An overview of media research	p. 3
Areas of inquiry	p. 5
Theoretical framework	p. 6
Chapter outline	p. 28
State control of Iranian cinema: the shifting 'red lines'	p. 30
Introduction	p. 30
Cinema and the state before the revolution	p. 31
The Islamic revolution and its aftermath	p. 34
Conclusion	p. 53
'Social films'	p. 55
Introduction	p. 55
Marriage of the Blessed (Makhmalbaf 1989)	p. 56
Glass Agency (Hatamikia 1997)	p. 69
House on the Water (Farmanara 2001)	p. 76
The Lizard (Tabrizi 2004)	p. 90
A note on the economics of Iranian cinema	p. 100
Conclusion	p. 102
'Women's films'	p. 104
Introduction	p. 104
Changes to women's social position in contemporary Iran: an overview	p. 106
Background to women and Iranian cinema	p. 107
Fifth Reaction (Milani 2003)	p. 110
10 (Kiarostami 2002)	p. 125
Conclusion	p. 136
Transnational circulation and national perceptions: art films in the Iranian context	p. 138
Introduction	p. 138
Reactions to the New Wave films (1969-79)	p. 139
State authorities and international success	p. 142
Art cinema filmmakers	p. 149
Women and international success	p. 157
Reactions among cinema-goers	p. 158
Conclusion	p. 159
Conclusion	p. 161
Notes	p. 165
Bibliography	p. 172
Filmography	p. 182
Index	p. 185
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