🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Giant, Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages have been shared for Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who has died aged 87 while residing in the United States. Homeland in Mourning The front pages of Iranian newspapers lament his loss, with opposition voices and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also offering their respects to Beyzai. "His passing is an immense tragedy for the art and culture of our country," said Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran. Even though Beyzai's subsequent works were banned in the 1980s by the Islamic regime, a host of senior figures in the present administration have also paid tribute his legacy to Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Many of the current crop of Persian directors have acknowledged their debt to him. Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai showed them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of direct political references in his work, both as a dramatist and a cinematic auteur, and always said he tried not to trade in explicit commentary. But his work over many decades places archetypal characters in conflict with oppressive religious and political systems. A Cultural Foundation From a family of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Persian culture from birth. He first rose to prominence as a theater writer, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A devotee of cinema, he transitioned to making films in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the key figures in the groundbreaking movement of Persian film. An Enduring Voice His most productive period spanned the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with each regime constantly poised to detect hidden messages that could be interpreted as dissent. "Beyzai never opted for the easy way. He withstood years of marginalization, enforced quiet, 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 regard as his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the Iran-Iraq war. It was banned in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that time—but later voted by film critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a restored version at this year's Venice Biennale, receiving an award for outstanding feature in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he lectured on Iranian culture. Although he went into exile, his wife, the actress Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still bring tears to his eyes—and he continued to hope for a new culture and future for his native land.