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Iran mourns legendary filmmaker Bahram Beyzai at 87
Iranian cinema and theatre have lost one of their most towering figures with the death of Bahram Beyzai in the United States at the age of 87. Tributes have poured in from across Iran's political and cultural spectrum, underscoring his enduring influence despite decades of censorship and exile.
Legacy across divides
Front pages of Iranian newspapers carried headlines mourning Beyzai, while both opposition voices and supporters of the former monarchy joined in paying homage. Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last Shah, called his passing "a great loss for the art and culture of our country."
Even senior figures in Iran's current Islamic government acknowledged his contributions, despite the regime banning several of his films in the 1980s. The paradox reflects Beyzai's ability to transcend political fault lines through his work, which often explored themes of oppression without explicit partisan messaging.
A master of myth and resistance
Born into a family of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in Persian cultural traditions from childhood. He first gained prominence as a playwright, drawing on Persian legends and rituals before transitioning to cinema in the 1970s. His films became cornerstones of Iran's New Wave movement, blending historical and mythic narratives with sharp critiques of power.
Jaafar Panahi, whose latest film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, credited Beyzai with teaching filmmakers "how to stand up to oblivion." Panahi noted that Beyzai "endured years of exclusion, imposed silence, and distance, but he did not give up his language and his beliefs."
Banned masterpiece and exile
Beyzai's most celebrated work, Bashu, the Little Stranger (1986), tells the story of a boy fleeing the Iran-Iraq war. Banned in Iran upon release, the film was later voted the greatest Iranian film of all time by critics. A restored version won the Classics section award at this year's Venice Film Festival, reaffirming its global stature.
After leaving Iran in 2010, Beyzai spent his final years teaching Iranian culture in the U.S. Yet his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, revealed that the mere mention of Iran could bring him to tears. Despite his exile, he remained hopeful for his homeland's cultural future.
Defying censorship
Beyzai's career spanned the reign of the Shah and the Islamic Republic, both of which scrutinized his work for hidden dissent. While he avoided overt political statements, his films often depicted historical or mythic figures clashing with oppressive systems-an approach that resonated with audiences while frustrating authorities.
"He did not choose the easy way."
Jaafar Panahi
A lasting influence
Beyzai's impact on Iranian cinema endures through the filmmakers he inspired. His ability to weave universal themes into Persian cultural traditions ensured his work remained relevant, even as he lived half a world away from the country that shaped-and censored-his art.
