🔗 Share this article Persian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Passes Away At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Iranian cinema and theatre, who passed away at the age of 87 in the US. Homeland in Mourning The front pages of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with dissenting figures and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also offering their respects 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. Even though Beyzai's later films were prohibited in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a number of senior figures in the current government have also acknowledged his legacy to Persian arts. The Teacher of a Generation Several of the contemporary generation of Persian directors have expressed their gratitude to him. Award-winning director Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai taught them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of overtly political content 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 many decades sets archetypal characters in opposition with oppressive structures of power. A Cultural Foundation Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the deepest traditions of Persian culture from birth. He first found fame as a theater writer, inspired by ancient myths and ceremonies. A lifelong fan of cinema, he transitioned to making films in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the key figures in the new wave of Persian film. Navigating Censorship His most fruitful era spanned the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with each regime ever ready to sniff out subtext that could be seen as criticism. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He withstood years of marginalization, imposed silence, and exile, but he did not give up his artistic voice and his beliefs," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. The Little Stranger A few years after the 1979 Revolution, he produced what many consider his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to find shelter from the devastating conflict. It was banned 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 screened in a restored version at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for outstanding feature in the classics section. A Hopeful Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he lectured on Persian studies. 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 native land.