IRANIAN CINEMA AND CENSORSHIP
BY NIMA NABAVI-NEJAD
I believe the beauty of a film is directly related to the effect it has on our imagination. Now if censors choose to manipulate what we see on the screen then what’s the
point of going to the movies in the first place? We might as well just stay home and play pretend. Or perhaps go to the park. This is quite a popular pastime in The Islamic
Republic of Iran, my country of birth, where I recently spent my summer vacation. Being a movie fanatic and also bored stiff, I decided to go to the local cinema and watch a film there with my wife. Besides the fact that we had assigned seats and were forced to sit through nearly 20 minutes of commercials and previews for other movies, I was optimistic and determined to enjoy myself. The movie we saw was entitled 7 Minutes until Fall.
Before I discuss what the movie was about there are a few things I need to tell you about Iranian cinema. Women are not allowed to show any skin, or hair, or have excessive makeup, or get intimate with their co-stars on screen. Similar rules apply to the men. Obscene amounts of violence, drug use, and films about sexuality or any other topic that you might think is “taboo” are strictly prohibited. Now you have an idea of how uninteresting some Iranian films could be. This particular movie was not very dull, although it was somewhat depressing. The movie was about a man and wife who live relatively happily until they lose their daughter in a car accident. The death of their child brings out emotions and feelings both parties had bottled up for so long.
The film was well made, however I couldn’t help but think how it could have been really entertaining without all the oh how should I put this politely… interference from the censorship committee that works for the suits (or turbans) who run the country. I saw another movie shortly afterwards hoping I would have a better all around experience. And well for the sake of time, let’s just say I was slightly peeved as I left the theatre on that occasion. No, it wasn’t just because of the annoying brats I sat next to, or their mother who kept yelling at them to be quiet. The highly recommended film was entitled Son of Adam Daughter of Eve, which turned out to be an inept romantic comedy. The main characters acted cartoonish and juvenile. All the risqué qualities that one might look for in a normal romantic comedy were muted. The film confirmed my worst fears; most films made in Iran are bland, suppressed, and chock full of clichés. Of course the Iranian filmmakers themselves are not to blame. The tyrannical Iranian government has them stuck between a rock and a hard place. Should they express freely themselves and risk bodily harm and heavy financial fines? Or should they continue to work within the confines of censorship in order to express themselves the only way they know how?
The majority of the filmmakers residing in the country have chosen to stay safe and avoid the government’s wrath. Why? Well ever since the revolution that took place over 30 years ago, many affluent nations have denied these artists the chance to emigrate and make the films they want to make. So they’ve thrown up the white flag. Will censorship continue to literally cover up the talented artists of Iran? I certainly hope not… but in all honesty I’ll censor myself here and say I just can’t tell. What I can say for sure is we must be grateful that we live in a nation where we are given the opportunity to express ourselves fully and without restraint. There are many artists/filmmakers in the world who aren’t that fortunate.