IRAN, VEILED APPEARANCES
By Thierry Michel
Synopsis
Revolution, violence and religious fanaticism are the images that Iran has been reflecting on the world for more than two decades. Yet in the midst of today’s turmoil how can we forget that one of the oldest nations in history took root in Iran? Twenty three years after the advent of the Islamic Revolution, this country, which is once again prey to history’s turbulence, is on the road to modernity. Faced with radical Islam advocated by the religious orthodoxy, the Iranian youth looks more toward the West and exposing itself to the winds of globalisation. It no longer finds its place in the religious revolution of the older generation.
“Iran – veiled appearances” is the portrait of a socially and culturally fractured society. The film-maker’s eye finds itself divided there and gives rise to a multifaceted and kaleidoscopic film, as multifaceted and kaleidoscopic as a country in which religious fervour of some contrasts with the desire for liberty of others.
After having asserted their desire for change during the presidential elections, the Iranians are now duped in their slight conquests by the power of the most conservative Islamists. This power has a firm grip on the army and the media and doesn’t think twice about resorting to political murder.
A co-production Les Films de la Passerelle, Les Films d’Ici, RTBF, VRT, Arte France, CBA, RAITRE, CCA. In collaboration with Eurimages, Procirep, CNC, MEDIA, SVT, YLE, DGCI, Sundance Documentary Fund.
Technical sheet
Year: 2002
Duration: 90'
Language: French
Direction: Thierry Michel
Assistants: Delphine Minoui, Davoud Dehghan, Kaveh Hosseini
Cinematography: Farsin Khosrowshahi
Cameraman: Thierry Michel
Sound: Bruno Di Liberto
Blender: Michel Goossens, Benoit Biral
Editing: Marine Deleu
Comments: Thierry Michel
Producers:
Christine Pireaux - Les Films de la Passerelle
Serge Lalou - Les Films d’Ici
Stills
Selections (38)
Namur French-speaking Film Festival (Belgium) 2002
European Creative Documentary Festival – Strasbourg (France) 2002
International documentary film festival Amsterdam (The Netherlands) 2002
Sundance Film Festival – Salt Lake City (USA) 2003
FIPA – Biarritz (France) 2003
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival - San Francisco (USA) 2003
Fespaco (Burkina Faso) 2003
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival – London (England) 2003
Filmondo – Milan (Italy) 2003
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival – Prague (Czech Republic)
DocAviv Tel Aviv (Israel) 2003
San Francisco (USA) 2003
Washington DC (USA) 2003
MoMA's (New York) USA 2003
Nashville (USA) 2003
Munich (Germany) 2003
Fortnight of French-speaking cinema – Berlin – (Germany) 2003
River Run (USA) 2003
Film Forum – Freiburg (Germany) 2003
One World Festival – Edinbough (England) 2003
Bite the Mango – Bradford (England) 2003
Television Festival - Monte Carlos (Monaco) 2003
Montecatini (Italy) 2003
Sarajevo (Bosnia) 2003
World Film Festival – Montreal (Canada) 2003
Documentary Festival – ARTE – Paris (France) 2003
Silver Lake Film Festival (USA)
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival- Nuremberg (Germany) 2003
Flanders film festival – Ghent (Belgium) 2003
Cork Film Festival (Ireland) 2003
Massachusetts Film Festival (USA) 2003
Hollywood Film Festival – Los Angeles – (USA) 2003
Valladolid (Spain) 2003
Copenhagen Dox Festival (Denmark) 2003
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival Bratislava (Slovakia) 2003
Febiofest (Czech Republic) 2004
Sevilla Film Festival (Spain) 2004
Resistance (France) 2004
Awards (7)
★ Award at the “European Creative Documentary” Festival in Strasbourg
★ Nominated for the Golden Gate Awards
★ Coq de Cristal: Prize awarded by the Parliament of the French Community;
★ Joseph Plateau Award – best Belgian documentary;
★ “Ezio Croci” award for best film, Filmondo,
★ Honorable Mention at the Tel Aviv International Documentary Film Festival (docaviv)
★ Nominated at the 43rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival