🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Passes Away At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages are pouring in for Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who passed away aged 87 in the US. A Nation Mourns The front pages of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with opposition voices and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "His passing is an immense tragedy for the cultural heritage of our country," remarked the exiled prince, son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's later films were banned in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of prominent officials in the current government have also paid tribute his contribution to Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Many of the current crop of Persian directors have acknowledged their debt to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai taught them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai avoided direct political references in his work, both as a playwright and a film director, and always said he tried not to trade in overt messages. But his oeuvre over many decades sets archetypal characters in conflict with authoritarian structures of power. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of renowned poets, Beyzai was imbued in the richest heritage of Persian culture from birth. He first found fame as a playwright, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A lifelong fan of cinema, he transitioned to filmmaking in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the pivotal artists in the groundbreaking movement of Persian film. Navigating Censorship His most fruitful era spanned the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with both systems constantly poised to detect subtext that could be seen as dissent. "Beyzai never opted for the path of least resistance. He withstood years of marginalization, imposed silence, and distance, but he did not give up his language and his beliefs," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a young child who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was censored in Iran—as were other films he made in that time—but later chosen by film critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a restored version at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for outstanding feature in the classics section. Final Years in Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he taught Persian studies. Even after he left his homeland, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still bring tears to his eyes—and he continued to hope for a renewed spirit and tomorrow for his homeland.