Farrokh Ghaffari
Encyclopedia
Farrokh Ghaffari was an Iranian film director, actor, critic and author. Along with Ebrahim Golestan
and Fereydoun Rahnema
he was one of the founders of Iran's New Wave film movement. By establishing the first National Iranian Film Society in 1949 at the Iran Bastan Museum and organizing the first Film Week during which English films were exhibited, Ghaffari laid the foundation for alternative and non-commercial films in Iran.
, but was educated in Belgium
and at the University of Grenoble
in France
.
In 1958, Ghaffari made one of the first neorealist films in Iranian cinema
, Jonoub-e Shahr (South of the City). Because of its depictions of working class poverty the film was banned by the Shah
's government, who feared the Soviet Union
would use it as a propaganda tool to show the distressed economic condition of Iran's lower classes. In 1963, a heavily edited version of the film entitled Reghabat Dar Shahr (Urban Rivalry) was finally released. In 1964, he produced and directed his next film Shab-e Quzi (Night of the Hunchback). Based on One Thousand and One Nights, the film was originally set during the time of Caliph Harun al-Rashid
but was changed to contemporary times because of censor objections. Shab-e Quzi is a black comedy
about smugglers who try to hide the body of a dead hunchback who is left on their doorstep. The film starred Ghaffari and Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz in his film debut. Ghaffari worked for National Iranian Television during this time. In 1975, Ghaffari released his final film Zanbourak (The Running Canon) starring Parviz Sayyad and Shahnaz Tehrani. In 1979 with the onslaught of the Iranian Revolution
, Ghaffari moved to Paris where he worked as a film critic for the magazine Positif
. He lived in exile in Paris until his death in 2006.
Ebrahim Golestan
Ebrahim Golestan is an Iranian filmmaker and literary figure with a career spanning half a century...
and Fereydoun Rahnema
Fereydoun Rahnema
Fereydoun Rahnema was an Iranian film director and poet. He is most known for his short film on Persepolis "Siyavosh dar Takht-e Jamshid". Although none of his films saw a theatrical release, they were highly influential within the Iranian New Wave movement. He also served as the director of Iran...
he was one of the founders of Iran's New Wave film movement. By establishing the first National Iranian Film Society in 1949 at the Iran Bastan Museum and organizing the first Film Week during which English films were exhibited, Ghaffari laid the foundation for alternative and non-commercial films in Iran.
Early life
Ghaffari was born in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, but was educated in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and at the University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble
University of Grenoble or Grenoble University was a university in Grenoble, France until 1970, when it was split into several different institutions:...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1958, Ghaffari made one of the first neorealist films in Iranian cinema
Cinema of Iran
The cinema of Iran is a flourishing film industry with a long history. Many popular commercial films are annually made in Iran, and Iranian art films win praise around the world....
, Jonoub-e Shahr (South of the City). Because of its depictions of working class poverty the film was banned by the Shah
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
's government, who feared the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
would use it as a propaganda tool to show the distressed economic condition of Iran's lower classes. In 1963, a heavily edited version of the film entitled Reghabat Dar Shahr (Urban Rivalry) was finally released. In 1964, he produced and directed his next film Shab-e Quzi (Night of the Hunchback). Based on One Thousand and One Nights, the film was originally set during the time of Caliph Harun al-Rashid
Harun al-Rashid
Hārūn al-Rashīd was the fifth Arab Abbasid Caliph in Iraq. He was born in Rey, Iran, close to modern Tehran. His birth date remains a point of discussion, though, as various sources give the dates from 763 to 766)....
but was changed to contemporary times because of censor objections. Shab-e Quzi is a black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
about smugglers who try to hide the body of a dead hunchback who is left on their doorstep. The film starred Ghaffari and Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz in his film debut. Ghaffari worked for National Iranian Television during this time. In 1975, Ghaffari released his final film Zanbourak (The Running Canon) starring Parviz Sayyad and Shahnaz Tehrani. In 1979 with the onslaught of the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, Ghaffari moved to Paris where he worked as a film critic for the magazine Positif
Positif (magazine)
Positif is a French film magazine, founded in 1952 by Bernard Chardère. It was published by Eric Losfeld.It often acted as a counterpoint to Cahiers du cinéma, another well-known French film journal, notably with Gerard Gozlan's article sarcastically titled "In Praise of André Bazin."The current...
. He lived in exile in Paris until his death in 2006.
Feature films
- 1958: Jonoub-e Shahr (South of the City)
- 1960 ArusKodumeh? (Who is the Bride?)
- 1965: Shab-e Quzi (Night of the Hunchback)
- 1975: Zanbourak (The Running Canon)
- Mard-e Kerayei (Rent Man) (unfinished)
Documentaries
- Siman-eTehran Norouzeman (Our New Year)
- Daryaye Pars (Persian Gulf)
- Zendegi Naft (Oil and Life)
- Vezarat Sanaye Va Maaden (Ministry of Industry and Mines)
External links
- Farrokh Ghaffari at IMDB