🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Dies At the Age of 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a colossus of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died aged 87 in the US. A Nation Mourns The front pages of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with opposition voices and those who look back fondly on the pre-revolution period also offering their respects to Beyzai. "His passing is a great loss for the art and culture of our country," said Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's subsequent works were banned in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a number of prominent officials in the present administration have also paid tribute his legacy to Iranian culture. The Teacher of a Generation Many of the current crop of Persian directors have acknowledged their debt to him. Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai showed 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 said he tried not to trade in explicit commentary. But his work over many decades places historical, even mythic figures in opposition with authoritarian structures of power. A Cultural Foundation Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the deepest traditions of Iranian artistry from birth. He first rose to prominence as a playwright, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A devotee of cinema, he moved into making films in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the key figures in the groundbreaking movement of Persian film. An Enduring Voice His most productive period straddled the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that deposed him—with both systems constantly poised to detect subtext that could be interpreted as dissent. "Beyzai did not choose the easy way. He endured years of marginalization, imposed silence, and distance, but he never abandoned his language and his convictions," stated Jaafar Panahi in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was banned in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that period—but later chosen by critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a restored version at this year's Venice Film Festival, receiving an award for outstanding feature in the heritage category. A Hopeful Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and lived out his final days in the US, where he taught Iranian culture. Although he went into exile, his wife, the actress 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 homeland.