28 Mar 2024
Thursday 9 June 2016 - 15:28
Story Code : 217805

3 new films for Ramadan

Before the start of the holy month of Ramadan (June 7), three new films hit the screens in cinemas across the country.

Comprising different genres to please various tastes, the new movies include Standing in the Dust directed by Mohammad Hussein Mahdavian, Barcode by Mostafa Kiai and We Dont Get Used to by Ebrahim Ebrahimian, all participants in the 34th Fajr Film Festival (FFF) in February.

Similar to previous years, this year also, cinema halls throughout Iran will host filmgoers till the morning during the fasting month, cinetmag.com reported.

One of the big winners of the 34th FFF, Standing in the Dust won four awards including best film and best director. It was also hailed by the public and critics alike.

Produced in the Sacred Defense (which refers to the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war) genre, the movie is a mix of documentary and drama and centers on the life of Ahmad Motevaselian, an Iranian commander during the Iraqi-imposed military conflict, featuring real footage of the commander at the battle front.

Motevaselian played a major role in the liberation of the strategic port city of Khorramshahr (in Khuzestan Province bordering Iraq) in May 1982 from Iraqi occupation. Soon after and as part of a senior diplomatic group of political and military leaders, he left for Syria. On July 5, 1982, however, when passing through a checkpoint on way to Beirut, the car in which he and three other diplomats were travelling disappeared without trace.
Three decades after the incident, the fate of the missing diplomats remains unknown.

Realistic and Influential

Mahdavians efforts to show this important part of the countrys history and one of the greatest Iranian commanders on the battle front has earned praise. Many have said the film is both realistic and influential which can connect to a vast audience.

Hadi Hejazifar plays the role of the commander. Amirhossein Hashemi, Ebrahim Amini and Emad Mohammadi are also in the cast.

A social comedy Barcode is the fifth feature film by Kiai whose previous works have all been among the bestsellers of their screening year. A new theme in Iran cinema, it depicts two young friends turning from two simple men into dangerous criminals. Meanwhile, it seeks to show social factors in their road to perdition.

Besides the three actors who appeared in Kiais previous movie The Ice Age, Bahram Radan, Mohsen Kiai and Sahar Dolatshahi, the veteran actor Reza Kianian, Pejman Bazeqi and Bahareh Kianafshar also act in the film.

It was among the top five films selected by the viewers of the 34th FFF, and thus is expected to attract many film fans.

We Dont Get Used to is Ebrahimians second feature film with a star-studded cast including Mohammadreza Forutan, Hedieh Tehrani, Sareh Bayat and Hamidreza Azarang.

It is a drama about a university professor whose wifes suspicions about him affects all aspects of their relationship.

Other films which were screened earlier this year also continue their showings during Ramadan. Currently, people across the country can watch Scandal 2 by Masoud Dehnamaki, Death of the Fish by Ruhollah Hejazi, A Romantic Robbery by Amir Shahab Razavian, Life+1 Day by Saeed Roustai, Bodiguard by Ebrahim Hatamikia and A Dragon Arrives by Mani Haqiqi.

From Dusk to Dawn

It has been a routine in recent years to screen films in cinemas during Ramadan from Iftar (fast-breaking) at the time of sunset till dawn the next day. The program From Iftar Till Dawn organized by Iran Cinema Organization, Society of Iranian Cinema Halls Owners, and the Guild Council for Public Screenings, was initiated in 2009.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide. People abstain from eating and drinking during daylight hours, and food and drink is served before dawn and after sunset.

According to the new regulations set for the program, during the day cinemas offer discounted tickets and the night showings are at full price.

Iran cinema had a roaring start with Norouz (New Year) screenings as the films attracted unprecedented huge audience to the halls. The 12 films released in the first three months of the year grossed $18 million (620 billion rials) which is a record in Iran.

On Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of the fasting month) a set of new movies including Reza Attarans horror comedy Dracula will be released as it is a golden time of the year for screening movies.

Later it will be time for summer screenings when movies such as Asghar Farhadis Cannes winner The Salesman, with Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti in the cast, and the first Iran-India joint production featuring Mohammadreza Golzar and Dia Mirza, will hit the screens. It is expected that the same trend of packed halls with film buffs will continue, and contribute to the domestic cinema industry.

By Financial Tribune
https://theiranproject.com/vdccxmqip2bqs48.-ya2.html
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