Travel Companions: Bahram Beyzaie & Amir Naderi

Already renowned as a playwright and scholar of Persian literature, history, and mythology, Bahram Beyzaie, who died far from his native Tehran in California this past December, added “filmmaker” to his resumé in 1970 with his short Uncle Mustache, and would quickly establish himself as one of the most popular and influential of Iranian filmmakers, a catalyst for the New Wave of the ’70s. Inspired by the newly available restorations of two of Beyzaie’s most formidable achievements, the compact masterwork Journey and Bashu, the Little Stranger, in 1999 voted the “Best Iranian Film of All Time” by Picture World magazine, we’ll be spotlighting the film work of the “Shakespeare of Persia,” accompanied by a selection of features by his friend and occasional collaborator Amir Naderi, whose exquisite 1985 The Runner was edited by Beyzaie.

Downpour

Introduction by Cinema Tehran founder Arya Ghavamian on Saturday, January 31st
Sat Jan 31

Uncle Mustache + Journey + Waiting

Introduction by programmer Edo Choi on Sunday, February 1st
Sun Feb 1

Harmonica

Introduction by programmer Edo Choi on Sunday, February 1st
Sun Feb 1

The Stranger and the Fog

Introduction by Cinema Tehran founder Arya Ghavamian on Sunday, February 8th

The Search

Sat Feb 7

The Ballad of Tara

Introduction by programmer Edo Choi on Sunday, February 8th
Sun Feb 8

Bashu, the Little Stranger

Introduction by Cinema Tehran founder Arya Ghavamian on Sunday, February 15th
Sun Feb 15

The Runner

Sun Feb 15