Mohsen Makhmalbaf: Difference between revisions

محسن مخملباف
Mohsen Makhmalbāf
محسن مخملباف; Mohsen Makhmalbāf
Born	Mohsen Makhmalbaf; May 29, 1957 (age 67); Tehran, Iran
Years active	1981 - present

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Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Template:Lang-fa, Mohsen Makhmalbaaf, born May 29, 1957) is an Iranian film director, writer, editor, and producer. During 2007 he was the president of Asian Film Academy.^[1]

Makhmalbaf's films have been widely presented in international film festivals in the past ten years. The multi-award-winning director, belongs to the new wave movement of Iranian cinema. Time magazine selected Makhmalbaf's 2001 film, Kandahar, as one of top 100 films of all time.^[2] In 2006, he was a member of the Jury at the Venice film festival.

Makhmalbaf left Iran in 2005 shortly after the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and now lives in Paris.^[3] As of June 12, 2009, and following the events of the 2009 Iranian presidential election, Mohsen Makhmalbaf has claimed that he has been appointed the official spokesman of Mir-Hossein Moussavi's campaign abroad.^[4]

Career

Mohsen Makhmalbaf is a major figure in Iranian cinema. His films have explored the relationship between the individual and a larger social and political environment. As a result, his work serves as an extended commentary on the historical progression of the Iranian state and its people. Makhmalbaf focuses on several genres, from realist films to fantasy and surrealism, from minimalism to large frescos of everyday life, with a predilection (common to Iranian directors) for the themes of childhood and cinema.^[5]

In 1981 he wrote the screenplay for Towjeeh directed by Manuchehr Haghaniparast. In 1982 he wrote the screenplay for Marg Deegari directed by Mohammad-Reza Honarmand. He made his first film Tobeh Nosuh in 1983. Boycott is a 1985 film by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, set in pre-revolutionary Iran. The movie tells the story of a young man named Valeh (Majid Majidi) who is sentenced to death for his communist tendencies. It is widely believed that the movie is based on Makhmalbaf’s own experiences.

Mohsen Makhmalbaf creates a spare and deeply affecting portrait of human despair, exploitation, and resilience in The Cyclist (1987).^[6] The movie is about Nasim, a poor Afghan refugee in Iran, who is in desperate need of money for his ailing wife. Finally Nasim agrees to ride a bicycle in a small circle for one week straight in return for the money he needs to pay his wife’s medical bills.

Time of Love (1991) is Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s ninth feature film and the first film of what he calls his "third period".^[7] It is a romantic trilogy that offers three variations of the same story.^[8]

Makhmalbaf directed Gabbeh in 1996. The film follows the nomadic Ghashghai people, whose bright, bold carpets tell stories. The main yarn features a young woman who loves a mysterious stranger, but is forbidden to marry him. Makhmalbaf attempts to follow the carpet idea by making his film dreamily romantic and non-realistic. Events seem to leap around in time and space, much like a dream.^[9]

Makhmalbaf took time off from directing in 1996 to form the Makhmalbaf Film House, a school for young film makers. It quickly became a private production house for the increasing number of filmmakers in his family. In 1997 his seventeen-year-old daughter, Samira directed "The Apple," using him as a scriptwriter and editor. Mohsen Makhmalbaf's wife, Marziyeh Meshkini, worked as assistant director to her daughter and then took up directing herself.^[10]

Kandahar (2001) is a fictional odyssey inspired by a true story. It is Makhmalbaf's look at Afghanistan before the September 11 attacks, as the Taliban's laws strip women of civil rights and hope, and a Western-cultured Afghan woman returns to prevent her sister's suicide during the last eclipse of the 20th century.^[11]

Degrees & Recognitions

Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature From St Andrew Univercity, Scotland, 2010
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Cinema From Nanterre Univercity, France, 2010
"Freedom to Create Prize" for his human right activity and promoting social Justice through his art, Art Action, England, 2009
“Federico Fillini Honor” from UNESCO in Paris, 2001 (France)
A Moment of Innocence: Among Top Ten Films of the Decade – Awarded by International Festival Directors and Critics 1999.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf: Selected as the best filmmaker after the revolution by readers of cinema publications, 1988.

Filmography

Boycott (1985)
The Street Vendor (1986)
The Bicyclist (1987)
Dastforoush (a/k/a "The Peddler," US) (1987)
The Marriage of the Blessed (1988)
Time of Love (1990)
The Nights of Zayande-rood (1990)
Once Upon a Time, Cinema (1991)
Actor (1993)
Hello Cinema (1994)
Gabbeh* (1995)
Bread and Flower-pot (retitled A Moment of Innocence for anglophone audiences) (1995)
The Silence (1997)
Tales of Kish (1999)
Test of Democracy (1999), with Farrokh-yar
Kandahar (2001), brought him the Federico Fellini Prize From Unesco in Paris in 2001
Alefbay-e afghan (2002) (The Afghan Alphabet, documentary)
Monday Market (2004)
Colder Than Fire (2005)
Sex & Philosophy (2005)
Chair (2005)
Poet of wastes (2005)(writer not director)
Scream of the ants (2006)
The Man Who Came With the Snow (2009), co-directed with Marzieh Meshkini
The Gardener (2012)

Films banned in Iran

Time of Love (1990), banned since 1990
The Nights of Zayande-rood (1990), banned since 1990
Bread and Flower-pot (1995), banned from 1995 until 1997
The Silence (1997), banned from 1997 until 2000
Naser-ed-din Shah (1991), banned from 1992 until 1993

Film appearances

The Marriage of the Blessed (1988), directed by himself
Close-up (1988), directed by Abbas Kiarostami
Hello Cinema (1994), directed by himself
Bread and Flower-pot (1995), directed by himself
The Test of Democracy (1999), directed by himself and Farrokh-yar

Awards

International

The Cyclist: Best Film - Rimini Festival (Italy) 1989.

2. The Cyclist: Best Film - Hawaii Festival (USA) 1991.

3. Once Upon a Time, Cinema: Best Film - Taormina Festival (Italy) 1992.

4. Once Upon a Time, Cinema: Best Film – Karlovy vary Festival (Czechoslovakia) 1992.

5. Once Upon a Time, Cinema: Best Film – Fiprachi Critics - Karlovy vary Festival (Czechoslovakia) 1992.

6.Once Upon a Time, Cinema: Best Director – Karlovy vary Festival (Czechoslovakia) 1992.

7. Once Upon a Time, Cinema: Special Jury Prize - Istanbul Festival (Turkey) 1993.

8. Collection of Works: Press Award – Sao Paulo Festival (Brazil) 1995.

9. Salam Cinema: Best Film – Munich Festival (Germany) 1996.

10. Gabbeh: Best Artistic Film – Tokyo Festival (Japan) 1996.

11. Gabbeh: One of 10 selected films by critics – Times (USA) 1996.

12. Gabbeh: Best Director – Sitguess Festival (Spain) 1996.

13. Gabbeh: Special Critics Award - Sitguess Festival (Spain) 1996.

14. Gabbeh: Best Asian Feature Film – Singapore Festival (Singapore) 1997.

15. A Moment of Innocence: Special Jury Award – Locarno Festival (Switzerland) 1996.

16. A Moment of Innocence: Youth Golden Award - Locarno Festival (Switzerland) 1996.

17. A Moment of Innocence: Among Top Ten Films of the Decade – Awarded by International Festival Directors and Critics 1999.

18. Silence: Golden Prize of Italian Parliament - Venice Festival (Italy) 1997.

19. Silence: Human, Art and Nature Award - Venice Festival (Italy) 1997.

20. Collection of Works: “Ville d'yssingeaux”, France 1998.

21. Marshall of Art and Literature, (France) 1998.

22. Kandahar: Grand prize from Society of churches of world, Cannes 2001 (France)

23. Kandahar: “Federico Fillini Honor” from UNESCO in Paris, 2001 (France)

24. Kandahar: The best movie from Ajaccio Film Festival, (France) 2001

25. Kandahar: "Public Prize" from Festival des Cinemas du Sud, (France) 2001

26. Kandahar:"Best Director Award" from Riga International Film Forum Arsenals,Latvia 2002

27. Thessaloniki 4th festival , Honorary Humanitarian Award (Greece) 2002

28. Collection of Works: “Francois Truffaut prize”, Giffoni Film Festival in Italy 2002.

29. The Afghan Alphabet:"Best Film Award"from Document ART International Film Festival, (Germany) 2002.

30. The 2003 Asian Filmmaker Award from Pusan Film Festival ,(South Korea) 2003.

31. One Of "The Best Hundred Films" Of History Of Cinema, Choosen By Times, (USA) , 2005

32. Kandahar: "Best Film" Fiprachi Critics From Thessaloniki (Greece) 2001

33. Sex & Philosophy,Tica Film Mediale International Film Festival, Italy,2005

34. Sergei Parajanov Awards for outstanding Artistic contribution to the world cinema, Yerevan Film Festival, Armenia, 2006

35. "Clermont-Ferrand Medallion", the city medallion granted to the legendary Mohsen Makhmalbaf , France, 2006.

36. Jury Special Mention Award for "Scream of the Ants" and life time achivement as a filmmaker, The Granada Film Festival CINES DEL SUR, Spain, 2007

37. "Golden Stag" award for life time achievement through his works and career as an outstanding artist, 37th Kyve (Molodist) International Film Festival, Ukraine 2007

38. "Alhambra" award for his artistic and humanitarian films, CINES DEL SUR International Film Festival, Spain, 2008

39- "Golden Dinosaur" award for establishment of Makhmalbaf film school ETIUDA&ANIMA International Film Festival, Poland, 2008

40- "Grand Human Right award" for his life time achievement and activity for human right through his art and actions from Nuremberg Human Right Film Festival, Germany, 2009

41- "Freedom to Create Prize" for his human right activity and promoting social Justice through his art, Art Action, England, 2009

44- "Special Award for a life time activity for human right through art and cinema" Sao Paulo Festival (Brazil) 2011

45- Golden Award for "The Gardener", From Beirut International Film Festival, Lebanon, 2012

National (Iran)

1. The Cyclist: Best Screenplay – Fajr Film Festival, 1988.

2. The Cyclist: Best Director – Fajr Film Festival, 1988.

3. The Cyclist: Set Design – Fajr Film Festival, 1988.

4. The Cyclist: Iranian Critics Award, 1990.

5. Marriage of The Blessed: Iranian Critics Award, 1990.

6. Once Upon a Time, Cinema: Best Editing – Fajr Film Festival, 1991.

As Jury

1- Locarno International Film Festival (Switzerland) 1994.

2- Sao Paulo International Film Festival(Brazil) 1995.

3- Torino International Film Festival (Italy) 1996.

4- Taormina International Film Festival (Italy) 1998.

5-Pusan International Film Festival (South Corea)1998.

6- Bahrein International Film Festival (Bahrein) 2000.

7- Singapore International Film Festival (Singapore) 2000.

8- Crala International Film Festival (India) 2001.

9- Osian's – Cinefan (India) 2004.

10- Dushanbeh International Film Festival (Tajikistan) 2004.

11- Clermont-ferrand International Film Festival (France) 2006.

12- Venice International Film Festival (Italy) 2006.

13- Europe Asia International Film Festival (Kazakhstan) 2006.

14- HEAD OF JURY: Molodist International Film Festival (Ukraine) 2007

15- Etiuda & Anima International Film Festival (Poland) 2008

16- Head of Jury: Tbillisi International Film Festival (Georgia) 2012.

Books on Makhmalbaf

Hamid Dabashi, Close Up: Iranian Cinema, Past, Present and Future. (Chapter on Makhmalbaf). Verso, 2001.^[12]
Hamid Dabashi, Like Light from the Heart of Darkness. Sakuhinsha, Japan, 2004.^[13]
Hamid Dabashi, Masters & Masterpieces of Iranian Cinema: (Chapter XI: Mohsen Makhmalbaf: A Moment of Innocence. pp. 325–368). Mage Publishers, 2007. ISBN 0-934211-85-X.^[14]
Hamid Dabashi, Makhmalbaf at Large: The Making of a Rebel Filmmaker. I. B. Tauris, 2007. [http://www.ibtauris.com/display.asp?K=9781845115326&aub=Hamid%20Dabashi&m=1&dc=2

.The Peddler: (Director’s interview, Screenplay, Reviews, and Study) Compiled by Ebrahim Nabavi, 1989.
Salam Cinema: (Screenplay, Interviews, Reviews, and Study) Compiled by Amir Khosravi, 1996.
. Gabbeh: (Photographs with along Screenplay) Photography by: Mohammad Ahmadi, 1996.
. Silence: (Photographs with along Screenplay) Photography by: Maysam Makhmalbaf, 1998.
. Mohsen Makhmalbaf: (Review and Study) Compiled by: Alberto Barbara (in Italian), 1996.
. Makhmalbaf’s Broken Mirrors: (Review and Study) Compiled by: Lyrid Dijeon (in English), 2000.
. Introducing of Mohsen Makhmalbaf and his works: (Review and Study) Compiled by: Baharlou, 1995 (second print: 1998).
. "Salaam Cinema, Films of Makhmalbaf Family" by Pusan International Film Festival, 2000.
. "The Films Of Makhmalbaf (Cinema, Politics & culture In Iran)" by: Eric Egan, 2005.
. " Makhmalbaf at Large" (Review and Study) by: Hamid Dabashi, 2008.
. "Mohsen Makhmalbaf: From Discourse to Dialogue" (Review and Study) by: Fernando González García, 2008.

Books by Makhmalbaf

Disgrace
    Two Blind Eyes
    The Sultan's Lake
    The Crystal Graden
    Death of Another
    Divine Arrow
    The Martyred Sheikh
    The Dumb Man's Dream First Volume
    The Dumb Man's Dream Second Volume
    The Dumb Man's Dream Third Volume
    Life is Color
    Introduction on Islamic Art
    Notes about Storywriting and Playwriting
    The Budhha was not demolished in Afghanistan, it collapsed out of shame
    The Bells
    Mother
    Legitimate Parliament
    Rajayi's School
    Birth of an Old Woman
    The Cyclist
    Marriage of the Blessed
    Time of Love
    Hail the Sun
    Bread and the Vase
    The Apple
    Travel To Kandehar
    To see and not to see

Films about Makhmalbaf

The Closed Eyes of Mohsen
Close up, by Abbas Kiarostami, 1990
Friendly Persuasion: Iranian Cinema After the Revolution
Cinema Is Nation's Language
The Dumb Man's Dream
Who's Who?
Salam Cinema (German)"
Cinema Is Nation's Language (Tadjik)"

Retrospective of Works

1. Iranian Film Festivals (France) 1989.
2. Rotterdam Festival (The Netherlands) 1989.
3. Hong Kong Festival (Hong Kong) 1991.
4. Bonn Cinémathèque (Germany) 1991.
5. La Rochelle Festival (France) 1991.
6. Tesaloniki Festival (Greece) 1995.
7. Sao Paulo Festival (Brazil) 1995.
8. Istanbul Festival (Turkey) 1996.
9. Turin Festival (Italy) 1996.
10. Singapore Festival (Singapore) 1996.
11. Chicago Festival (USA) 1996.
12. Beirut Festival (Lebanon) 1996.
13. India Festival (India) 1997.
14. Tokyo Festival (Japan) 1997.
15. The Netherlands Cinémathèque (The Netherlands) 1997.
16. Vienna Festival (Austria) 1997.
17. Cleveland Cinémathèque (USA) 1997.
18. UCLA (USA) 1997.
19. New York Museum of Modern Arts (USA) 1997.
20. Boston Museum of Modern Arts (USA) 1997.
21. Pacific Archives in Berkley (USA) 1997.
22. Vancouver Cinémathèque (Canada) 1997.
23. Toronto Cinémathèque (Canada) 1997.
24. Ontario Cinémathèque (Canada) 1997.
25. Montreal Cinémathèque (Canada) 1997.
26. Madras,Banglore,Viji Vada,Haydarabad , India 2001
27. Daka, Bangladesh 2002
28. Bosnia, 2002
29. Bulgaria, 2002
30. Munich International Film Festival, Germany 2006
31. Cine Del Sur International Film Festival, Spain 2008

Sources

^ Introduction: 2007 Faculty
^ "All-Time 100 Movies". Time. February 12, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
^ Guardian 2009 article
^ Iranian filmmaker alleges election fix
^ La Biennale di Venezia
^ Mohsen Makhmalbaf
^ MacFarquhar, Neil (June 8, 1997). "1997 New York Times article describing the four periods into which Makhmalbaf divides his work". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
^ http://www.offscreen.com/biblio/essays/time_of_love/
^ Combustible Celluloid film review - Gabbeh (1996), Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Shaghayegh Djodat, Hossein Moharami, dvd review
^ Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson , ed. Film History. 3rd. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 610. Print.
^ Axmaker, Sean (October 1, 2002). "Haunting 'Kandahar' a stark, surreal odyssey". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
^ Hamid Habashi. "Close Up: Iranian Cinema". Versobooks.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
^ [1]^{[dead link‍]}
^ "Persian Poetry and Shahnameh Books - Culture of Iran from Mage Publishers". Mage.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.

External links

Makhmalbaf Film House (Official Website of Makhmalbaf's family: Mohsen - Marzieh - Samira - Maysam - Hana)
Mohsen Makhmalbaf at the Internet Movie Database
Firouzan Films Iranian Movie Hall of Fame Inductee Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Worlds Transformed: Iranian Cinema and Social Vision
Mohsen Makhmalbaf: Retrospective by Donato Totaro (1997)

Template:Persondata

[1] Introduction: 2007 Faculty

[2] "All-Time 100 Movies". Time. February 12, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2010.

[3] Guardian 2009 article

[4] Iranian filmmaker alleges election fix

[5] La Biennale di Venezia

[6] Mohsen Makhmalbaf

[7] MacFarquhar, Neil (June 8, 1997). "1997 New York Times article describing the four periods into which Makhmalbaf divides his work". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2010.

[8] ttp://www.offscreen.com/biblio/essays/time_of_love/

[9] Combustible Celluloid film review - Gabbeh (1996), Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Shaghayegh Djodat, Hossein Moharami, dvd review

[10] Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson , ed. Film History. 3rd. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. 610. Print.

[11] Axmaker, Sean (October 1, 2002). "Haunting 'Kandahar' a stark, surreal odyssey". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

[12] Hamid Habashi. "Close Up: Iranian Cinema". Versobooks.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved 2010-09-07.

[13] [1]^{[dead link‍]}

[14] "Persian Poetry and Shahnameh Books - Culture of Iran from Mage Publishers". Mage.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.

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 *. "Mohsen Makhmalbaf: From Discourse to Dialogue" (Review and Study) by: Fernando González García, 2008.
-===Books by Makhmalbaf===
+==Books by Makhmalbaf==
  Disgrace
      Two Blind Eyes