The Tel Aviv Cinematheque Presents "A Cinematic Leap to Iran"

Iran is a fascinating country, and Iranian cinema is considered high quality. In October, as the shadow of the October 7th massacre continues to accompany daily life in Israel, as part of the international program, the Tel Aviv Cinematheque chose to turn to Iranian cinema. Cinema that comes from beyond the tense line between nations.

Within the cultural, geopolitical, and emotional distance, the Cinematheque chose to seek the person beyond. Iranian cinema, despite the difficult conditions in which it operates, offers a deep, multi-layered, and wonderfully poetic human voice that expresses a longing for life, for justice, for connection, and for morality - longings that are no different from our longings here. Out of grief and upheaval, the program does not seek to open a door to another war, but a window to human lucidity.

The choice of Iranian cinema at this time is an act of hope that where politics blocks, art will allow contact, illuminate the similar, and remind us that as long as there is someone watching and listening, he is still a human being. Iranian cinema does not deal with political reconciliation but with life itself; it tells the story of the soul within limitations, the search for truth within silence. Precisely now, when another war may loom on the horizon, the Cinematheque offers to pause for a moment and see not the enemy but the similar, the human, what awaits at the end of the distance: a person.

The program presents classics alongside award-winning contemporary works: "Gabbeh" by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, a colorful and enchanting tale of love, giving, and freedom; "There Is No Evil" by Mohammad Rasoulof, winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, composed of four different but related stories dealing with the price of freedom; and "A Hero" by Asghar Farhadi, winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes, a powerful drama about a former prisoner who becomes a local hero overnight and is forced to fight for his good name.

Alongside them will be screened new films such as: "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" by Rasoulof, a moving contemporary political drama that won special awards at the last Cannes Film Festival; as well as timeless masterpieces by Abbas Kiarostami: "Through the Olive Trees", a poetic work that blends reality and fiction in a village destroyed by an earthquake, and "Taste of Cherry", winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, dealing with existential questions about life and death - which will be screened with an introductory lecture by Amri Dekel Kadosh.

The program will conclude with "I'm Taraneh, 15" by Rasoul Sadrameli, a heartwarming drama about a girl who insists on raising her child despite social pressure - a rare screening from a 35mm film print, accompanied by an introductory lecture by Meital Aboksis.

Details of the films:

Gabbeh | Gabbeh Iran/France, 1996, 75 min. Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf | Starring: Abbas Sayah, Shaghayeh Djodat, Hossein Moharami Language: Persian, Hebrew subtitles

A poetic and enchanting legend from the creator of Mohsen Makhmalbaf, one of the leading voices of Iranian cinema. The film opens with an everyday scene - an elderly woman washing a colorful Gabbeh rug, produced by nomadic tribes in southwestern Iran. Suddenly, the figure of a young woman, Gabbeh, emerges from it, whose story is revealed to the viewers: forbidden love, long anticipation, and loyalty tested against a rigid tradition. Through a combination of vivid colors, poetry, the film offers a spectacular cinematic experience in which reality and legend intertwine.

06.10 | 20:00

There is No Evil | There is No Evil Iran, 2020, 150 min.Director: Mohammad Rasoulof | Starring: Baran Rasoulof, Zhila Shahi, Mohammad Sedighimehr Language: Persian, Hebrew and English subtitles

A brave and moving creation that won director Mohammad Rasoulof the Golden Bear at the 2020 Berlin Film Festival. The film is composed of four different stories - a doctor who breaks under the burden of restrictions, a young man facing a fateful decision, a man forced to commit a cruel act against his will, and a devoted father who hides a dark secret from his daily life. Each of the stories raises piercing moral questions about the price of freedom, personal responsibility, and the ability to maintain humanity within a suffocating political-social reality. Critics around the world hailed the film as a rare cinematic drama in its power. 07.10 | 18:00

A Hero | A Hero Iran, 2021, 128 min.Director: Asghar Farhadi | Starring: Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, Fereshteh Sadrorafaii Language: Persian, Hebrew subtitles

The award-winning film by Asghar Farhadi, one of the leading Iranian directors of his generation, Oscar winner for "A Separation" and "The Salesman." The film, which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, tells the story of Rahim - a man imprisoned for a debt. During a furlough from prison, he finds a large sum of money and suddenly becomes a local hero when he decides to return it. But the fame raises new questions: Was the act real or staged, is his heroism authentic or a fiction? A sweeping drama that calls into question the concepts of truth and morality in contemporary society. 07.10 | 21:00

The Seed of the Sacred Fig | The Seed of the Sacred Fig Iran/France/Germany, 2024, 167 min.Director: Mohammad Rasoulof | Starring: Missagh Zareh, Soheila Golestani, Mahsa Rostami, Setareh Maleki Language: Persian, Hebrew and English subtitles

A sharp political-social drama by Mohammad Rasoulof, which won a special jury prize and the Critics' Award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film tells the story of Iman - an investigating judge in the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, who receives a significant promotion. As his status rises, he demands that his family adhere to strict laws, but the spirit of protest in the streets also penetrates his home. When his gun disappears, the balance is completely upset and the family deteriorates into a sharp conflict. Beyond the suspenseful plot, the film is considered a brave statement against the Iranian regime, and Rasoulof himself fled his homeland moments before being sentenced to a heavy prison sentence. 13.10 | 13:00

Through the Olive Trees | Through the Olive Trees Iran/France, 1994, 103 min.Director: Abbas Kiarostami | Language: Persian, Hebrew subtitles

A cinematic gem by Abbas Kiarostami, part of a famous trilogy that also includes "Where Is the Friend's Home?" and "And Life Goes On. The film takes place in a village severely damaged by an earthquake, where a film crew arrives to produce a new film. Among those recruited for the play is Hossein, a poor and homeless young man, who plays the husband of Tahereh - the same woman he loves in reality. Tahereh has rejected him many times, but now reality and cinema are mixed: will she continue to resist even when the cameras are documenting their story? A poetic work that brings together reality and fiction and offers a unique view of the relationship between art and life. 14.10 | 16:30

Taste of Cherry | Taste of Cherry - Screening + Introductory Lecture by Amri Dekel Kadosh Iran, 1997, 95 min. Director: Abbas Kiarostami | Starring: Homayoun Ershadi, Abdolhossein Bagheri Language: Persian, Hebrew subtitles

A philosophical masterpiece by Kiarostami, winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. A man named Mr. Badi travels around Tehran in search of a person who will agree to help him with an unusual mission: to bury him after he commits suicide. On his way he meets a soldier, a security man and a religious teacher - each of whom offers a different response to the dilemma. The film deals with questions of the meaning of life, free choices and the limits of human existence. Before the screening, there will be an introductory lecture by researcher and lecturer Amri Dekel Kadosh. 14.10 | 18:45

I'm Taraneh, 15 | I'm Taraneh, 15 - Screening + Introductory Lecture by Meital Aboksis Iran, 2002, 110 min. Director: Rasoul Sadrameli | Starring: Taraneh Alidoosti, Hossein Mahjoub, Mailed Sadrameli Language: Persian, Hebrew subtitles | 35mm film print

A heartwarming drama that deals with the character of Taraneh - a 15-year-old girl whose father is in prison and whose mother is gone. Out of utter loneliness, she marries a wealthy merchant, but the marriage collapses quickly and she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Despite the social and family pressures, she decides to raise the child. The film won the International Critics' Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and awards for directing and acting at the Locarno Film Festival, and became a symbol of sensitive and direct Iranian cinema that honestly looks at the reality of the lives of young women. Before the screening, there will be an introductory lecture by Meital Aboksis. 20.10 | 18:00

Photograph = from the film "The Seed of the Sacred Fig". Photo courtesy of New Cinema