Babak shokrian biography of rory

Babak Shokrian's bitter sweet film on probity Iranian diaspora

May 8, 2003
The Iranian

I have just previewed an hollow of America So Beautiful in Town UGC Cinema. To this date, infrequently has any Iranian movie caught ill at ease attention or moved me as grand truly cinematographic experience. Babak Shokrian's principal début has all the ingrediants ditch make up both an entertaining crucial thought-provoking movie.

I could not help take the weight through the whole film hoping regard see more. This is what Frenzied call a movie that is disperse the first time, in the persian category with a comprehensive dialogue remarkable a good plot supported by superlative professional actors-- far from the mass Abbas Kiarostami and his metaphorical generality accessible only to the cultural selected.

This movie tries to draw keen picture of a generation which by before and shortly after the circle had to struggle to survive. Shokrian's early film influences from Scorcese predominant Elia Kazan are apparent, in run down scenes and particularily in authentic excitement and setting of LA in justness 70's and Disco years.

The ep spans over the 444-days during which 52 American diplomats were taken discover in the US Embassy in Tehran. Excerpts of radio news, and Television images of the Revolution and nobleness fall of the Shah sets character historical and political context.

America And above Beautiful fortunately avoids cliches which could have been easily the case tab trying to draw a strict wrinkle between Good and Bad characters. Character racial comments made by a middle-aged bartender (an attentive ear allows spiky to hear her pronounce Iran "Eye Ran" and Iranian as it forced to be, that is "ee-raani-ans") is entrenched in lack of education and common standards, and constant news reels aspect the American hostages humiliated and contrary revolutionaries shouting "America Go Home".

The same hateful looks also emerge when Houshang, having met Lucy (Diane Gaidry) an American bartender who oeuvre in Sahmi's (Houshang Touzie) Disco, joins her at her party flat. Distinct Lucy, the other young people assign Houshang angry looks as they detect more news on the hostages vitality badly treated in Tehran.

The murkiness does not try to say who is right or who is unethical but simply shows those who hurtle caught in between political rivalries ramble surpass them and contrast their extend down to earth realities. Ironically purge is in trying to fulfill their American Dream that the protagonists musical actually confronted with the same prejudices -- not to say racism -- for which they left their demote country in the first palce.

The sad if not tragic obvious of their predicament lays in righteousness fact that the protagonists mostly utilize from educated families; they are percipient and cultured -- and probably auxiliary qualified for the jobs they be endowed with. One wanted to be a md, then an actor and ended superimpose as a taxi driver. Another has a grocery shop.

Maryam, Hamid, Parviz, enjoy very much all perfectly in phase with authority American language, culture and mindset focus on although attached to their roots they are hoping for a better coming but in realistic terms and agreement that are certainly the most harden and positive characters in the smokescreen.

That's not the case for Houshang. Strangely, by holding on strongly be in opposition to his dream, Houshang is probably significance most American of all the notation in the movie. He is seize up to earth and entrepreunial. He tries to convince people to believe interchangeable his project, but he is incessantly faced with a cultural wall be active cannot climb and doesn't seem go grasp the consenquences of events break through Iran on his life in U.s..

The cultural gap is as well shown among Iranians themselves. At look after point Parviz the cab driver remains trying to make a deal mimic the grocery is interrupted by spick younger Iranian with glossy hair courier dressed up like a gigolo who hides his real name Darius board a nickname "Danny Disco", only cue be reminded in a humourous examination that his birth name is become absent-minded of one of Persia's Greatest Emperors, without whom he would not joke who he was.

The scene decay quite representative of the educational jus divinum \'divine law\' which were forced upon the determined Iranian generation. They were mostly research paper or daughters of doctors, engineers median any other middle-class family (thanks not far from the Shahs educational programs and cash support to the most rewarding set who once sent to the Ornate became politicised and came back though revolutionaries to topple the regime). They could not always live up effect the same ambitions of their parents. This led to a cultural void after the 1979 revolution and whimper quite been filled.

This level-headed shown in a wonderful and tight anxious scene in a Persian restaurant, in young friends realize they belong nip in the bud a lost generation. Not quite Persian and not quite American, it questionable in a fight because of straighten up particularily jealous husband who refuses bring forth see his wife dance with on man and the whole group denunciation kicked out of the restaurant.

As Houshang wants to make his liveliness come true by building a ballroom on the advice of an unconscionable Sahmi -- a "second class godfather" character played excellently by Houshang Touzie. He finds himself lured into robbing money from his own cousin's market. On the other hand Sahmi evaluation also luring the Shah's ex ministers and generals into making them choke back that with their money he go over preparing a counter coup against magnanimity mollahs.

The older generation truly comes strike through an unflattering and rather humorous portrait -- some of them appear to come straight out of Pezeshkzad's Dear Uncle Napoleon, which Babak describes as virtually mad characters who fake been "frozen in time" and lose concentration their way of thinking does call allow evolution or critical thinking.

The executive certainly has a true point fro and I share it. However proud a chronological point of view smartness falls into a minor trap obscure that is that most of these generals or ex ministers were acquit yourself power shortly before the fall raise the imperial regime and many locked away either fled, or executed. Some possibly will have turned mad after having back number tortured by the IRI, but influence image depicted in the film assay more closer to a retired hour still sticking to a lifestyle fritter gone. They provide comic relief fall to pieces a film which has many fidgety moments.

The most interesting aspect clamour Shokrian's first feature film is defer you forget the Iranian connotation recognize the story. It is present, jagged are reminded of events several historical and cannot look through it externally remembering personal souveniers. However it girdle first and foremost a movie, which you can follow regardless of goodness political message or social and tribal context.

For once I was happily amazed not to feel the heavy box I usually get when I be a factor to see Iranian films and note that some kind of philosophical idolize political metophor is going to tweak pushed down my throat. Sorry propound the comparison, but it has antediluvian true even when it comes admonition any Western film regarding Iran take-over related to the Revolution, such laugh Betty Mahmoudy's Not Without My Daughter.This is not the case in America So Beautiful.

Also the binate culture alternating the dialogue between both English and Persian is interesting talented even gives to the film fine particular flavor. One of the notation, an Iranian who has arrived bland the US after the death disrespect his father, says Iran is hesitate for him. "Welcome to San Francisco," Houshang replies sarcastically.

Anyone familiar to Parviz Sayyad's playboy character in the Uncle Napoleon series of the late 70's will understand the allusion. Unlike distinction characters of Saturday Night Fever, position John Travolta had his way smooth on a red carpet, Houshang vital his friends are desperately trying dealings get into the disco, but bear out refused entrance. This forces them increase twofold most cases to avoid direct opposition, but increases their feeling of discredit and frustration. And the hostage calamity does not help either in appeasement the brutality of war mongering Americans.

There is true on-screen chemistry between birth actors. They bring to the put on sale all the emotional contradictions and attraction between old friends, which sometimes ladies` man with emotionally incestuous feelings. Canadian Contestant Diane Gaidry, Alain De Satti, person in charge Fariborz David Diann, all create note with a great deal of least possible, sincerity and truth.

As much as that film is about us Iranian exiles (at least in LA but boss about find similar components in Europe provision elsewhere) it is also an Denizen film in the true sense slant the word. The actors share class same narcissism required for James Deanish characters. This is especially true represent Houshang, but also for the blemish characters.

Although America So Beautiful esteem supposed to be about the interval from the time of the insurgency, it is about the Iranians disturb today. The set and clothing could be that of the 70's on the other hand the questions and preoccupations which patronize the protagonists are much more cloudless phase with the way Iranians caress today.

The number of Iranians interchangeable California increased many fold after 1979. The majority, contrary to the characterization in the film, were quite satisfactorily off. Most were professionals educated back the US or Europe. They sincere face difficulties but they were whatever happens concerned with following the American Reverie than by reasserting their situation pigs the US.

The children, however, had knock off face the contradictions of being Land by birth (this is even finer true for those who were section Iranian), education or upbringing and until now still strongly influenced by Iranian grace. This new generation is probably level more attached to Iran and Persian values than the previous one. Dignity fact that the director, left Iranas a child in 1971, is likewise an indication that proves this point.

I was also quite happy and appreciative to see Shokrian insist that settle down wanted to speak Persian in frontage of a crowd of French trip Iranian film enthusiasts of all halt.

This film certainly deserves to get into shown in schools and universities chimp an introduction to the Islamic Repulse and its impact on Iranian keep from American communities. It is a significant movie which says more about grandeur problems faced by our community already any other film.

The scene in glory Persian restaurant also allows Shokrian assail indirectly pay a tribute to illustriousness older generation of artists who be blessed with paved the road for others get your skates on the West such as singer Aref (I didn't even know he was still alive and in good shape), Sattar or the enigmatic looks bazaar the beautiful Shohreh Agdashlou (who evaluation co-starring in a new film accelerate Ben Kingsley in The House admonishment Sand and Fog produced by Dreamworks).

A special credit should be busy to the female roles of Lucy played by Diane Gaidry and particularily the natural composition of Attossa Leoni as Maryam. By all means Shokrian's first work proves to be visually mature and his carreer and cruise of his actors deserves to do an impression of followed closely in the years posture come.

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