Iranian Film Legend Visits Cinema Studies Class
Lucy Kee
Issue date: 4/30/01 Section: Arts/Entertainment
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Vossoughi said that he would like to return to Iran “very much” but that he feels it is impossible at this time.
Living in the United States, Vossoughi has had far less acting opportunities than he had in Iran. Political tension between Iran and the US made him appear unhirable to many American directors. He also turned down acting jobs in films like, Not Without My Daughter, which he felt negatively stereotyped, his native country.
“It’s one thing to show a problem in Iran,” he explained, “It is another to show only problems and then say, ‘This is Iran.’”
In 1996, however, Vossoughi’s patience was rewarded. After months of searching, Dutch director Nora Hoppe called Behrouz and offered him the lead role in her film, The Crossing, about an exiled Afghani calligrapher. Hoppe felt that given his real-life situation, Behrouz was perfect for the role. Vossoughi said that he is very proud of the film and spoke optimistically about its release. He said that whether The Crossing is shown in Iran without protest or not will be a test of the waters for him.
The San Francisco International Film Festival will be screening subtitled versions of the Vossoughi films Dash Akol (April 21 9:00 PM, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco) and Tangsir (April 29 12:30 PM Kabuki Theater, San Francisco, April 30 9:30 PM The Park in Menlo Park). For ticket information visit http://www.sffs.org.
Living in the United States, Vossoughi has had far less acting opportunities than he had in Iran. Political tension between Iran and the US made him appear unhirable to many American directors. He also turned down acting jobs in films like, Not Without My Daughter, which he felt negatively stereotyped, his native country.
“It’s one thing to show a problem in Iran,” he explained, “It is another to show only problems and then say, ‘This is Iran.’”
In 1996, however, Vossoughi’s patience was rewarded. After months of searching, Dutch director Nora Hoppe called Behrouz and offered him the lead role in her film, The Crossing, about an exiled Afghani calligrapher. Hoppe felt that given his real-life situation, Behrouz was perfect for the role. Vossoughi said that he is very proud of the film and spoke optimistically about its release. He said that whether The Crossing is shown in Iran without protest or not will be a test of the waters for him.
The San Francisco International Film Festival will be screening subtitled versions of the Vossoughi films Dash Akol (April 21 9:00 PM, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco) and Tangsir (April 29 12:30 PM Kabuki Theater, San Francisco, April 30 9:30 PM The Park in Menlo Park). For ticket information visit http://www.sffs.org.