🔗 Share this article Persian Cinema Titan, Beyzai, Dies At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages have been shared for Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Iranian cinema and theatre, who passed away aged 87 in the US. Homeland in Mourning The headlines of publications in Iran lament his loss, with dissenting figures and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "This loss is an immense tragedy for the cultural heritage of our country," remarked the exiled prince, son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's subsequent works were prohibited in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of prominent officials in the present administration have also acknowledged his legacy to Iranian culture. A Mentor to Filmmakers Many of the current crop of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai taught them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of direct political references in his work, both as a playwright and a cinematic auteur, and always maintained he tried not to deal in overt messages. But his oeuvre over countless years places archetypal characters in opposition with authoritarian structures of power. A Cultural Foundation From a family of celebrated poets, Beyzai was imbued in the richest heritage of Persian culture from birth. He first rose to prominence as a theater writer, inspired by Persian legend and ritual. A devotee of cinema, he transitioned to filmmaking in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the pivotal artists in the new wave of Iranian cinema. Navigating Censorship His most productive period straddled the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that deposed him—with both systems constantly poised to detect hidden messages that could be seen 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," said Jaafar Panahi in his tribute. The Little Stranger A few years after the 1979 Revolution, he produced what many consider his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to find shelter from the Iran-Iraq war. It was censored in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that period—but later chosen by critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was screened 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 lived out his final days in the US, where he lectured on Iranian culture. Even after he left his homeland, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just hearing the word "Iran" would still bring tears to his eyes—and he remained ever hopeful for a new culture and future for his homeland.