🔗 Share this article Persian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound homages are pouring in for Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who has died at the age of 87 while residing in the United States. Homeland in Mourning The front pages of publications in Iran mourn his loss, with opposition voices and those who reflect nostalgically on the pre-revolution period also offering their respects 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. Although Beyzai's later films were banned in the 1980s by the Islamic regime, a number of prominent officials in the current government have also acknowledged his legacy to Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Many of the contemporary generation of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Award-winning director Jaafar Panahi said 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 trade in overt messages. But his work over countless years places archetypal characters in conflict with oppressive structures of power. Roots in Tradition From a family of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the deepest traditions of Iranian artistry from birth. He first found fame as a theater writer, inspired by ancient myths and ceremonies. A devotee of cinema, he transitioned to filmmaking 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 Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with both systems constantly poised to detect subtext that could be seen as dissent. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He endured years of marginalization, imposed silence, and distance, but he did not give up 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 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 other films he made in that time—but later voted by critics as the best 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. Final Years in Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he lectured on Iranian culture. Even after 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 continued to hope for a renewed spirit and future for his native land.