AN ACT OF LOVE: Agnès Varda Confers Cannes Award to Jafar Pahani

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AN ACT OF LOVE: Agnès Varda Confers Cannes Award to Jafar Pahani
by Darius Kadivar
14-May-2011
 

CANNES— After Clint Eastwood, Nanni Moretti, David Cronenberg, Jim Jarmush and Agnès Varda, it’s the turn of Jafar Panahi, to recieve the prestigious Carrosse D’Or however in absentia. Condemned and held in his country, the Iranian filmmaker received the Award in présence of French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterand during the Festival’s conférence panel on a « filmmakers working under dictatorships ».

The Prize was confered to Mr. Panahi by the award’s former recipient Agnès Varda (who knows Iran well, having directed a short film in the 1970’s entitled Plaisir D’Amour en Iran, shot essentially in Isfahan) who took to opportunity to symbolically and humorously put on the prize an artificial bird in tribute to the Iranian filmmaker’s struggle for freedom of expression.

Remember the Flight The Bird Is Mortal ...

Also present was legendary Filmmaker Costa Gavras (Z, The Confession), as well as director Olivier Assayas (Carlos), actor Michel Piccoli, Iranian Reza Serkani and Syrian Filmmaker Oussama Mohammed.

Films of Mohamad Rousoloff another Iranian director also condemned by the Islamic Republic’s judiciary to 6 years of prison will be screened during the Festival in a sign of Solidarity and calls for his immediate release have been endorsed by numerous personalities including this year’s Jury headed by Robert De Niro.

Agnes Varda's Plaisir d'amour en Iran (1976/1977) :

Plot:

Pauline and a narrator comment on the sensuality ofPersian architecture.
Made at a time when Iran had a seemingly revolving door for incoming European directors and bottomless funding for their projects, Plaisir d'amour en Iran is a short, sort of love story between a handsome Iranian Ali Darius (played by Ali Raffi) and a visiting French woman (Valérie Mairesse). The film was shot at the Shah Masjed in the romantic settings of theeternal city of Isfahan.

Official Website of the Cannes Film Festival Here

Recommended Readings:

Agnès Varda – Plaisir D’Amour En Iran (1977) (worldcinema.com)

Iranian Pioneers in French New Wave Cinema by Darius KADIVAR

Related Blogs:

UN CERTAIN REGARD: In tribute To Siamak Pourzand (1930-2011)

Asghar Farhadi Triumphs As An Artist But Fails As A Citizen

MISTER "Z": Meeting Costa Gavras For "Une Journée à Tehran"

FARAH & CLINT: Shahbanou Farah Hosted by Clint Eastwood and Wife in Paris

EMINENT PERSIANS: Hadi Khorsandi and Shahbanou Farah at French Ministry of Culture (13th July, 2010)

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Hafez for Beginners

"Orientalist" treasure to watch

by Hafez for Beginners on Sat May 14, 2011 07:09 PM PDT

How the "Farangi" feels about the beauty of Iran, is not necessarily how I feel about it - but beautiful shots, nonetheless. (You know, there's the "exocitc east" thing, as if the East is a playground for a Westerner's sensual fantasies. To me, that's slightly condescending... I'll have to look up my Edward Saiid: "Orientalism" book, again.) The profound spaces and volumes created in Persian Architecture, go way beyond having as their goal to excite purely the fantasies portrayed in the film. The visuals were a treasure to watch, nonetheless.

Thanks for posting.

Afsaneh


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comments

She is pregnant.  It's not

by comments on Sat May 14, 2011 03:00 PM PDT

She is pregnant.  It's not a rumor any more. 


  •  
Darius Kadivar

Azadeh Jaan and Faramarz Jaan

by Darius Kadivar on Sat May 14, 2011 02:29 PM PDT

Your welcome Azadeh Jaan,

Glad you enjoyed it. Wish this was possible in today's Iran ...

 

Faramarz Jaan,

 

Yes there are rumors of Carla Bruni being pregnant. It most probably is more than just a rumor. It's the talk of the town. So I guess we will know more in due time.

Wish I could do as you say but as you know it's not because one lives in a Republic or that one has voted for the President of one's choice that one is necessarily invited to the State Dinners:

 

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or Garden Parties ;0)



EMINENT PERSIANS: Arash Derambarsh Future French President?


alas for me I wasn't invited ...

 

 

All the More that Last Time I voted it was for Royalist colors aka Ségolène Royale who happened to be the Socialist Candidate ;0) 

 

FLORENCE FORESTI parodie SEGOLENE ROYAL

 


  •  
Faramarz

DK Jaan, A Question for You!

by Faramarz on Sat May 14, 2011 12:33 PM PDT

Since you are in the know and live close to the Sarkozis, is it true that Carla Bruni is pregnant?

She is so adorable and will be radiant if she ever becomes pregnant!

Please give her my best love!


  •  
Azadeh Azad

Thank you Darius jan

by Azadeh Azad on Sat May 14, 2011 11:56 AM PDT

... for the two videos. Agnes Varda's short film is superb!

Cheers,

Azadeh 


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