"Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth"

i see

a wonderful transformation. growing and changing are natural and i for one am totally fine with taking his transformation at face value.

life would be so boring without change...

Peace

This is not about him being a good artist but

 accountability . no need to muddy the waters. No one is judging him for his art but his action as a willing participant adult in service of a regime to culturaly brainwash 2 generations of Iranians ,I repeat 2 generations by the likes of him. Hitler's germany produced many great artists & movie directors such as Leni Riefenstahl or Arno Brecker too , so are we supposed to brush their Nazi propaganda art form aside and make em spokepersons for free German republic  just because they smelled nice ,wore tuxedos and talked the talk when wind blew their way post war II. There is nothing wrong for him to speak his mind or practice his artistry but he has absolutly no right and or credential to speak on behalf of Iranians whom he & his Ommatie regime for 2 decades helped to oppress & brainwash thru his propaganda work for the regime. One only needs to check some of his earlier works for IR tv(before his cinema career) to find the extent of damage the likes of him have done to the psyche of his young audience yet he is still not repentant  and tries to pass the blame to his old shaikh masters.

Cheers!!!

Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia

Ostaad, great link!

To credit HollyUSA. If you had seen the above photo juxtaposition in an art museum, you would certainly think the artist was making a point. In terms of emotions, I would say the work creates a sense of betrayal, not just of the subject's own ideology but more by the implication that he is no longer one of us--as we don't often wear tuxes or pose for glamor shots. 

Thank you for your insights

Thank you for your insights Darius. Much appreciated.

But I still go with a more cerebral type of movie! it's a matter of taste though.

Very well put, Darius!

I am a 100% with you on this. Thank you!

 ps: but between the two, artistically I do prefer Kiarostami to Makhmalbaf. :)

Darius, I'm with you on Makhmalbaf "issue"...

But there's something about the "now" picture that keeps nagging me, and that is Makhmalbaf's attire. Let me say this before you tell me, Ostaad deal with it, that it is NOT a big deal. But why does Makhmalbaf, whose background and politics are an open book, is appearing like Goerge Clooney, the bow tie, the tux and all? I mean, did he use to OWN a tux and an assortment of bow ties for attending various functions of the Eslamic Republic, or he rented them like a many a high school student attending a prom?

Hey, I know, no big deal. I'm just wondering and I thought you might shed some light on this with a couple of sentences even in faraanseh.

Ari, I like your "angle" of looking at the shots...

Check out this web site. Analysing press shots is all this site is about.

//www.bagnewsnotes.com/

Looking forward to seeing your comments there.

BTW. The backgroud of each photo is very interesting too.

And I salute you Darius

Seule Les Imbeciles ne Changent Pas ...

Et Il y'a Beaucoup D'Imbeciles sur ce site ...

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO7hiEFnPRk

We Iranians are a Strange Lot ... We Can't stand success in others. Those who criticize Reza Shah love to remind everyone that he was an illiterate but overlook his amazing accomplishments as a self made man and contributions to his nation.

There are many things that Makhmalbaf or his daughter have said or done in the past with which I don't share or like. But I respect the artist and ultimately the man. Maybe even more than his colleague and friend the Great but often overestimated Abbas Kiarostami.

Yet these TWO SHAH's of Iranian Cinema ( an expression used by the Iranian Film Magazine a few years ago to describe these pionneers of the Iranian New Wave) will without doubt leave a lasting legacy in the history of Iranian and world cinema.

Iranian Pioneers Of The French New Wave Cinema by Darius KADIVAR

But Mohsen Makhmalbaf has gained my admiration also for his courage in facing his own inner demons and turning them into works of Art rather than instruments of hatred or Revenge.

His work of exploration of Iranian cinema and history be it in such films as Salaam Cinema, Nun va Goldun or his exploration of Qajar Era Art are interesting beyond their experimental approach.

The Iranian new wave cinema is greatly influenced by Italian Neo Realism and also Asian films particularly in the case of Kiarostami who much admired Akira Kurosawa and the latter also admired Kiarostami as the last True cinematographer of the 20th century.

But personally I prefer Makhmalbaf's poetic vision not to say romantic approach both in his life and his Art to that of Kiarostami's cerebral sophistication ...

On the political front Even if I personally don't consider that MY VOTE was Stolen in the late elections in Iran (since I refused to take part in ANY election organized by this regime by principle as well as loyalty to my Crown Prince and Legitimate Queen who has not and will NEVER Abdicate until death parts us )  I nevertheless admire Makhmalbaf's implication in the Green Movement and in voicing his chosen Republican candidate's concerns to the World. And for rallying international support for the Rights of our compatriots back home:

Marjane ( Et Mohsen) Sur Tous Les Fronts by DK

Mohsen Makhmalbaf interview with BBC persian about Testing Democracy and election :

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8C2Zr9trnY

I have not seen all of his filmography but have followed his work each time I had an opportunity to see one of his films in town. As a matter of fact I would love to interview him on films one day if I get that opportunity.

In addition he seems to have set a positive example to the young generation to take their own destiny in their own hands as quite recently with such artists as Golshifteh Farahani or Kalhor's daughter who chose to flee their country in a bid for not only Freedom but to voice their fellow compatriots pain and hopes to the World.

As a Fellow Compatriot who witnessed and filmed Iran and Iranians amidst all the religious and political censorship be it during or after the Iran Iraq War and tried to convey our people's humanity and generosity amidst all the negative things that this Republic inflicted on them, I can only Bow to his talent and praise the film dynasty he has created with his talented family.

He has earned a much envied place in the community of Not Only Iranian but World Artists and paved the way to a different cinema. One can like or hate his films but they certainly don't leave you indifferent nor without questions.

As Such I Salute his well deserved Success with or Without That Tuxedo and Face Shave !

VIVE LE CINEMA!

&

LES VERITABLES CITOYENS ENGAGES ET SINCERES !

Iranians by nature are

Iranians by nature are self serving and opportunistic.  Yes, thats you and me as well.  There are the 10-20% exceptions at best of course.

For those of you who find this strange, are you kidding me?!!

Yesterday's Shahi is today's Basij is tomorrows ....... 

Anonymouse, it seems to me...

that you are reading into comments as you wish. That's fine, we are all allowed that freedom. So long as we don't convince ourselves that our perception is necessarily fact.

Gotta run. Apologies in advance for not being around for a while.

Corruption = Tuxedo!

Everything is sacred.

My take

from the observation of these two pictures is :

Look where curruption can lead you !

HollyUSA...

Metamorphosis of Jaleho/Kharmagas/booshveg?

"Then" is a better photo.

Curious? Ok. Suspect? I hope at least "allegedly"!

Everything is sacred.

Souri

I had heard that the pictures were around but hadn't seen them until recently myself. I found them while cleaning up my inbox and figured others may find it interesting too.

At the very least...

I find the newfound persona curious if not suspect.

Holly jan

definitively we have more in common than I thought previously :)

Thanks for sharing those pictures. I had never seen them before.

What is your judgment?

Everything is sacred.

Is that a question or a comment?!

'you be the judge in this case.' I thought that was clear enough.

Yes, so?

Everything is sacred.