As an Iranian journalist in exile, I have often been confronted with the question “why does the Persian Gulf matter so much to you Iranians?” followed by “Is it because of the oil? Is it because it is a strategic location? Or is it only a nationalistic gesture on your part? After all, isn’t it just a body of water like any other?” and I, unable ... Continue reading »

  Each year when that historic day arrives; i.e. Esfand 29 on the Persian Calendar which corresponds to March 19 on the Gregorian Calendar, the date when in 1951 the Iranian oil was nationalized by a bill passed through the Iranian Parliament under the auspices of Mohammad Mosaddeq (1882-1967) and with the support of the people; the Iranian sociop ... Continue reading »

  As an Iranian whom misfortunes of time have compelled to leave his beloved homeland behind and, as a blessing in disguise, brought to know peoples from different lands and cultures, I have often been accosted with the question – usually after the inquirer, past a couple of shots, has been warmed up enough to allow themselves to cross the so-call ... Continue reading »

    "Once upon a time, in a mountainous land between Baghdad and the Sea of Caviar, there lived a nobleman. This nobleman, after a lifetime of carping at the way the kingdom was run, became Chief Minister of the realm. In a few months he had the whole world hanging on his words and deeds, his jokes, his tears, his tantrums. Behind his grotesque an ... Continue reading »

  Makoto Shinkai's Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) is a wonderful anime, though it takes a very long time - almost full forty minutes - to get off the ground. Yet it is worth the wait, for then it takes you on a journey to a faraway wonderland rich in magic, color and detail almost akin to those created by Hayao Miyazaki. The story is not gr ... Continue reading »

  Amir Ezati is an Iranian writer, filmmaker, film critic, film studies teacher, literary translator, television producer, publisher and cultural activist. He was born in Tabriz in 1968, and he has been publicly active in many important venues since the late 1980’s. This interview was done in the spirit of cultural exchange; for the IUP English De ... Continue reading »