Children of the Revolution: A closer look into Iranian Cinema post 1979
The Cinema of Iran has been flourishing in the last couple of decades, making it one of the most fascinating cinemas in the world. Its history is full of complexity due to Iran’s stringent government, which annihilates anything seen as hostile to the regime. This has always been a problem for filmmakers causing them to turn to the world of children in order to safely portray their stories. The theme that runs through this research is therefore a concern with child characters in Iranian cinema and the vital role they play in Iranian society. It considers why children occupy the majority of film narratives produced after the 1979 Revolution, and why they are viewed as some of the most symbolic and vibrant films in cinema history.
To answer these questions, this thesis offers a closer look and reading into three of the top leading Iranian pioneers in the contemporary Iranian film industry. Firstly focusing on Abbas Kiarostami, and his masterful legacy working with unprofessional child actors. Kiarostami’s films have the ability to evoke emotions from within with Persian poetry nuances which run silently throughout. The second chapter delves into Jafar Panahi’s ongoing battle with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and takes a closer eye at his first film, The White Balloon (1997), which offers an insight into his neo-realistic style used to convey messages about Iranian way of life. The third chapter focuses on the still-active filmmaker Majid Majidi, whose religious undertones and expressive cinematography are a distinctive trademark.
This research highlights that while there are obvious differences between the directors’ works, especially the films explored, as well as considerable differences in opinion and views about the country, it is their work with children that brings them together. This varied and multi-faceted way of presenting Iranian life on screen is the reason for this investigation. Iranian Cinema is enlightening and fascinating, to say the least.
