🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Titan, Bahram Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Iranian cinema and theatre, who passed away at the age of 87 while residing in the United States. A Nation Mourns The headlines of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with opposition voices and those who look back fondly on the pre-revolution period also paying homage to Beyzai. "His passing is a great loss for the art and culture of our country," remarked Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's subsequent works were prohibited in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a number of senior figures in the present administration have also paid tribute his contribution to Persian arts. The Teacher of a Generation Several of the contemporary generation of Persian directors have acknowledged their debt to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai showed them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai avoided direct political references in his work, both as a playwright and a cinematic auteur, and always maintained he tried not to trade in explicit commentary. But his oeuvre over countless years sets historical, even mythic figures in opposition with oppressive structures of power. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of renowned poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Iranian artistry from birth. He first found fame as a theater writer, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A lifelong fan of cinema, he moved into filmmaking in the 1970s. He gained acclaim as one of the key figures in the groundbreaking movement of Persian film. Navigating Censorship His most productive period straddled the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with each regime ever ready to sniff out hidden messages that could be interpreted as criticism. "Beyzai did not choose the easy way. He withstood years of marginalization, enforced quiet, and exile, but he never abandoned his language and his convictions," said the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the 1979 Revolution, he produced what many consider his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was banned in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that time—but later voted by film critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was screened in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Film Festival, receiving an award for outstanding feature in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he lectured on Persian studies. Even after he went into exile, 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 future for his homeland.