🔗 Share this article Persian Film Titan, Bahram Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes are pouring in for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died at the age of 87 while residing in the United States. A Nation Mourns The headlines of publications in Iran mourn his loss, with dissenting figures 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 the exiled prince, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's later films were banned in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of senior figures in the present administration have also acknowledged his contribution to Iranian culture. The Teacher of a Generation Many of the contemporary generation of Iranian filmmakers have acknowledged their debt to him. Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai showed them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai avoided overtly political content in his work, both as a playwright and a cinematic auteur, and always said he tried not to trade in overt messages. But his oeuvre over many decades sets archetypal characters in conflict with oppressive religious and political systems. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Iranian artistry from birth. He first rose to prominence as a playwright, inspired by ancient myths and ceremonies. A devotee of cinema, he moved into filmmaking in the 1970s. He gained acclaim as one of the pivotal artists in the new wave 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 constantly poised to detect subtext that could be seen as criticism. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He withstood years of exclusion, enforced quiet, and exile, but he did not give up his artistic voice and his convictions," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. The Little Stranger A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a young child who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was banned in Iran—as were other films he made in that time—but later chosen by 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 lectured on Iranian culture. Although 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 tomorrow for his homeland.