Iran's Culture Ministry Lifts Ban on Farhadi's Film "Separation of Nader and Simin"
Source: Mehr News Agency, Tehran
The Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has lifted its ban on the production of "Separation of Nader and Simin".
Asghar Farhadi
The decision to lift the ban was made by Deputy Culture
Minister for Cinematic Affairs Javad Shamaqdari and Culture Ministry Supervision
and Evaluation Office Director Alireza Sajjadpur, the public relations
department of Shamaqdari's office announced in a press release on Saturday.
Shooting of the film, which is being directed by Asghar Farhadi, was scheduled
to be resumed on Saturday.
The production license for "Separation of Nader and Simin" had been revoked by
the Culture Ministry over Farhadi's remarks at the 14th Iran Cinema Celebration
on September 16.
Farhadi had criticized Iranian cultural policy for isolating a number of
prominent cineastes, including Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Jafar Panahi, Bahram Beizaii,
Amir Naderi, and Golshifteh Farahani.
He also wished that something would happen in such a way that would allow them
to resume their professional activities in Iranian cinema.
The Culture Ministry accused Farhadi of advocating on behalf of the
'counterrevolutionary' Makhmalbaf and his family.
In an interview, Farhadi said last week that his remarks were misconstrued. He
noted that he respects the productions by those filmmakers, but he doesn't care
about their political positions.
In another interview conducted on Friday, Farhadi had expressed hope that the
problem would be settled due to his recent meetings with the Culture Ministry's
officials.
Related Story:
Iranian film community under government scrutiny -
The Iranian minister of culture blasted Iran's film community for their
expressions of support for the Green Movement. He blasted the participants at
the festival of Iran Cinema Celebration for wearing or carrying green symbols
saying such supports for what he referred to as "a dead movement" is not
acceptable.
... Payvand News - 10/03/10 ... --
