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Persian Cinema Giant, Beyzai, Dies At the Age of 87
Widespread tributes have been shared for Bahram Beyzai, a colossus of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died at the age of 87 while residing in the United States.
Homeland in Mourning
The front pages of Iranian newspapers lament his loss, with dissenting figures and those who reflect nostalgically on the pre-revolution period also paying homage to Beyzai.
"This loss is a great loss for the art and culture of our country," said the exiled prince, son of the last Shah of Iran.
Even though Beyzai's later films were prohibited in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of senior figures in the present administration have also paid tribute his contribution to Persian arts.
A Mentor to Filmmakers
Many of the contemporary generation of Persian directors have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai taught them "how to stand up to oblivion."
Beyzai avoided overtly political content in his work, both as a dramatist and a cinematic auteur, and always maintained he tried not to trade in explicit commentary.
But his oeuvre over countless years places archetypal characters in opposition with oppressive religious and political systems.
Roots in Tradition
Hailing from a lineage of renowned poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Persian culture from birth.
He first rose to prominence as a theater writer, drawing on Persian legend and ritual.
A lifelong fan of cinema, he moved into filmmaking in the 1970s.
He won renown as one of the pivotal artists in the groundbreaking movement of Iranian cinema.
An Enduring Voice
His most fruitful era spanned the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that deposed him—with each regime constantly poised to detect hidden messages that could be seen as criticism.
"Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He endured years of marginalization, enforced quiet, and exile, but he did not give up his artistic voice and his beliefs," said the filmmaker in his tribute.
A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict
A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many regard as his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a young child who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict.
It was censored in Iran—as were other films he made in that time—but later chosen by film critics as the best Iranian film of all time.
The film was shown in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for best film 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 Persian studies.
Even after he left his homeland, his wife, the actress Shamsai, said just hearing the word "Iran" would still make him emotional—and he continued to hope for a new culture and tomorrow for his native land.
Rita Jenkins
A financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and investment planning, dedicated to empowering others.
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