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Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, April 2008, page 59 Music & Arts Smithsonian Shows Iranian Films
THE SMITHSONIAN Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, DC hosted “The Iranian Film Festival 2008” in January and February at its Meyer Auditorium. The festival was organized by Bo Smith, who works at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, with the help of co-sponsor Ilex Foundation, Olga Davidson and Niloofar Fotouhi. All viewings were free, but the event was so popular among Americans and those of Iranian descent, that many were unable to gain entrance to the films. However, this did not discourage them from coming back to see what next week had to offer. Organizers noted that events such as the Iranian Film Festival are needed to provide an alternative side to media coverage of Iran. The films depict culture, food, families, characters and stories to which people can relate. The films shown included “Persian Carpet,” a compilation of short films demonstrating the depth and importance of the textile; “Unfinished Stories,” three interlocking stories of a runaway teen, a wife kicked out by her husband, and a young mother; “Iran: Seven Faces of a Civilization,” a reconstruction of thousands of years of Iranian history and cultural feats like Persepolis; “Havana File,” in which a scientist is subjected to a government-issued project cancellation; “Rule of the Game,” a comedy exploiting Iranian stereotypes, which could be called “Tehran Hillbillies”; and “Red Robin,” where Islamic and Christian traditions merge amid tragedy. —Nina Hamedani |
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