">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Iran director's film casts new light on homeland
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Iran director's film casts new light on homeland
AFP - Saturday, April 11
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - - Iranian director Majid Majidi wants his films to show Western audiences a different image of his homeland, saying Western media portrayals of Iran ignored the country's rich history.
Majidi, best known for his Oscar-nominated film "Children of Heaven," is back in US cinemas this month with his latest movie "Song of Sparrows," the touching story of an ostrich farmer who falls on hard times.
The film, released in US theaters on Friday, has earned critical plaudits for its portrayal of rural life in Iran and striking cinematography depicting the country's natural beauty.
Majidi told reporters here he wanted the film to give audiences a different view of Iran to its common portrayal in US media as an ideological foe hell-bent on acquiring a nuclear arsenal.
"The damaged portrait about Iran in the western news media is the wrong image," Majidi said. "Trying to just look at everything from the political aspect and ignoring a nation with such a long history, such a rich culture, hurts Iran's image in the world.
"Iranian cinema is trying to correct that image, to give the real image of Iran and the people of Iran."
Majidi, 49, whose influences include legendary US director John Ford, said Iran's burgeoning film industry often had to operate by guesswork in terms of knowing how to deal with state censors in the Islamic republic.
Celebrated contemporaries such as Mohsen Makhmalbaf have seen their work fall victim to the censors.
"There is not really a standard way of dealing with films in Iran. It really depends on the taste of the people who are in government at that time," Majidi told AFP through an interpreter.
"Under (pro-reform president) Mohammad Khatami it was a little bit easier; with the recent government it has become tougher. The problem is it's not regulated, so you really don't know what the situation is.
"A film could be censored under one government and win an award under the next government."
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
0 users recommend
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
Billy Bob Thornton's band cancels Canadian tourAP - Sunday, April 12
NASA to announce module name on `Colbert Report'AP - Saturday, April 11
Dave Matthews Band's "Whiskey" a toast to MooreReuters - Saturday, April 11
"Rock Band" practicing "Chinese Democracy"Reuters - Saturday, April 11
Festival producers optimistic despite recessionReuters - Saturday, April 11
Enlarge Photo
Iranian film director Majid Majidi, pictured, wants his films to show Western audiences a different image of his homeland, saying Western media portrayals of Iran ignore the country's rich history. His new film, "Song of Sparrows," tells the touching story of an ostrich farmer who falls on hard times and has just been released in the US.
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
UN sounds warning after Antarctica ice shelf rips
French commandos storm yacht
Harry Potter actor arrested over cannabis find
Selective abortion causes 32mln excess China males
World oil glut raises risk of recovery 'crunch': IEA
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 12 April 2009 Israeli jets scramble to escort Delta flight
9 Sunni fighters die in suicide attack in Iraq
Blogger becomes casualty of Iran cyber-wars
Egypt detains man transporting £1.4 mln for Hamas
Sudan opposition calls for transitional government
Suicide bomber kills 12 Sunni militiamen in Iraq
Somali pirates 'capture US tug'
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 604
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,271
Ship reaches Kenya; pirate lifeboat drifts toward land
| International
|
U.N. draft demands enforcement of North Korea sanctions
| International
|
Pope leads Catholics into Easter
| International
|
Some 100,000 demand Sri Lanka ceasefire in UK march
| International
|
Hundreds mourn British man's death during G20 protest
| International
|
Obama: Global cooperation needed on big problems
Venezuela's Chavez sees 'good signals' from US
High seas hostage drama could conclude in US court
US hostage skipper makes failed break for freedom
Officials: Navy has amphibious assault ship ready
Skype founders 'looking to buy back company'
Rock Band practicing Chinese Democracy
| Technology
|
Skype founders said to be eyeing eBay company: report
| Technology
|
London marchers remember G20 death
Tiananmen 20 years later: A survivor's story
UN chief urges Laos to overcome poverty
Nashiro retains WBA super flyweight title
Asia summit gala dinner goes on _ minus delegates
Racers too Fast for Hannah Montana at box office
| Entertainment
|
Paparazzo says actor Woody Harrelson assaulted him
| Entertainment
|
Paparazzo says actor Woody Harrelson assaulted him
Festival producers optimistic despite recession
| Entertainment
|
Japan may drop UN resolution on NKorea: report
Key dates in Thailand's political unrest
China economic stimulus starting to work: premier
Green Day plans rare NYC club gig
| Entertainment
|
Dave Matthews Band's Whiskey a toast to Moore
| Entertainment
|
China's hurdler Liu 'eyeing comeback'
Pakistan gets record remittances in March
Pakistani c.bank buys 43.03 bln rupees of T-bills
Dolly Parton finds Cracker Barrel a good fit
| Entertainment
|
China foreign exchange reserves at $1.95 trillion
William H. Macy sees new turn in career track
| Entertainment
|
Billy Bob Thornton's band cancels Canadian tour
China forex reserves fall in February
Rock Band practicing Chinese Democracy
| Entertainment
|
Blade Runner blaster gun lands on auction bloc
| Entertainment
|
Pilgrims throng to tomb of Jesus
China bank loans at record high in March: official
Springsteen accused of affair in U.S. divorce case
| Entertainment
|
French against rose wine made by mixing red, white
Taiwan passes $4.41 bln stimulus plan
NASA to announce module name on `Colbert Report'
Japan PM launches stimulus with eye on election
Dave Matthews Band's "Whiskey" a toast to Moore
India to hold auction of oil and gas blocks
"Rock Band" practicing "Chinese Democracy"
Renault, Nissan to produce 'clean' cars for China
Festival producers optimistic despite recession
Iran director's film casts new light on homeland
Dolly Parton finds Cracker Barrel a good fit
Hundreds of irregularities in Indonesia vote
NASA to unveil space station name on Colbert show
Somali pirates, U.S. captive drift toward shore
| International
|
Israel minister: Hezbollah chief 'deserves to die'
U.N. draft calls for North Korea sanctions
| International
|
As Marines' exit gathers pace, some Iraqis fret
Baluch militants kill six mine workers in Pakistan
| International
|
Real IRA threaten to take campaign to Britain: report
| International
|
First US family reportedly gets dog
Thai PM moves to restore order after summit fiasco
| International
|
Pirate hostage siege, Italian tug grabbed
Indonesia president eyes allies, but coalition may take weeks
| International
|
Tigers face semi-final Rugby Cup showdown with Cardiff
Pope leads Catholics into Easter
| International
|
Maoists win three of six seats in Nepal by-elections
| International
|
FBI to question US crew in criminal piracy probe
Fiji faces international backlash over upheaval
Thai summit protest leader arrested: police
Major powers agree new NKorea sanctions text
Protests can't stop the party at Thai beach resort
Malaysia police hit by new claim of suspect abuse
SKorean ex-leader's son quizzed over corruption
US says 4 militants killed in Afghan clash
Support for Japan PM recovers
In "Africa Wax" war, Dutch take on China
Militants torch trucks along US-NATO supply line
S.Korea says to inject $377 mln to help car industry
New orangutan population found in Indonesia
Global steel industry awaits auto turnaround
Bank of Japan to bolster capital: report
Toyota set to suffer second straight loss: report
Latvia faces tough tasks in post-boom hangover
Summit siege a fresh blow for Thai tourism
Villa construction frenzy paving Bali paradise
Iran president dismisses demand to halt atom work
Thai ministry stormed after government declares emergency
| International
|
Iran president dismisses demand to halt atom work: report
| International
|
Israel's Netanyahu vows to talk peace with Abbas
Israeli, Palestinian leaders make first phone call
Italy quake survivors celebrate bitter Easter
| International
|
Mummies found in ancient Egypt burial chamber
Abbas calls Israel's Netanyahu, urges peace moves
Egypt state-controlled paper denounces Hezbollah
| International
|
Christians mark Easter as pope pleads for peace
NGO leading talks to free two aid workers in Sudan
| International
|
Pope comforts quake survivors on sombre Easter
Afghan female provincial legislator shot dead
Zimbabwe sets team to drive constitutional reforms
| International
|
New years' halt to Sri Lanka fighting: president
| International
|
Israeli man injured in 2002 bombing dies of wounds
Moldovan court orders recount of disputed election
| International
|
Odierno: US troops in Iraq's cities up to Iraq
Negotiations resume to free US captain
Berlusconi shares Easter with quake survivors
Madonna still keen to adopt Malawian child: report
| Entertainment
|
Thai government declares emergency
Thai PM declares state of emergency to curb unrest
SKorean prosecutors quiz ex-president's wife, son
Thailand announces state of emergency in capital
Sri Lanka declares 48-hour ceasefire
Chinese helicopter crashes into sea off Shanghai
Thailand imposes state of emergency in Bangkok: state TV
Afghan government: 22 militants killed in clash
Chinese premier says economy improving
China planned $10B investment fund at summit meet
Fox's Glenn Beck announces comedy tour
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Indonesia president eyes allies, but coalition may take weeks
Madonna still keen to adopt Malawian child: report
Michael Caine is not the retiring type
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights