🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Passes Away At the Age of 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages are pouring in for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a colossus of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died aged 87 while residing in the United States. A Nation Mourns The headlines of publications in Iran lament his loss, with opposition voices and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also offering their respects 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 Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Several of the current crop of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Award-winning director Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai showed them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of direct political references in his work, both as a playwright and a cinematic auteur, and always said he tried not to deal in explicit commentary. But his oeuvre over countless years places archetypal characters in conflict with authoritarian structures of power. A Cultural Foundation Hailing from a lineage of renowned poets, Beyzai was imbued 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 transitioned to making films in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the key figures in the groundbreaking movement of Iranian cinema. An Enduring Voice His most fruitful era straddled the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with both systems constantly poised to sniff out hidden messages that could be interpreted as dissent. "Beyzai did not choose the easy way. He endured years of exclusion, enforced quiet, and exile, but he never abandoned his artistic voice and his convictions," stated Jaafar Panahi in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the 1979 Revolution, he produced what many regard as his masterpiece, 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 other films he made in that time—but later voted by film critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was screened in a restored version at this year's Venice Film Festival, receiving an award for best film in the classics section. A Hopeful Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he taught 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 remained ever hopeful for a renewed spirit and tomorrow for his native land.