🔗 Share this article Iranian Film Titan, Bahram Beyzai, Dies At the Age of 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Iranian cinema and theatre, who passed away aged 87 while residing in the United States. Homeland in Mourning The front pages of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with dissenting figures and those who reflect nostalgically on the Shah era also offering their respects to Beyzai. "His passing is an immense tragedy for the cultural heritage of our country," remarked the exiled prince, the exiled 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 Iranian culture. A Mentor to Filmmakers Several of the contemporary generation of Persian directors have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai taught them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai avoided direct political references in his work, both as a dramatist and a cinematic auteur, and always maintained he tried not to deal in explicit commentary. But his work over many decades places archetypal characters in conflict with oppressive structures of power. Roots in Tradition 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 moved into making films in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the pivotal artists in the new wave of Iranian cinema. An Enduring Voice His most fruitful era spanned the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with each regime ever ready to sniff out hidden messages that could be interpreted as criticism. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He endured years of marginalization, imposed silence, and exile, but he did not give up his language and his beliefs," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to find shelter from the devastating conflict. It was banned in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that time—but later voted by film critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Biennale, winning an award for outstanding feature in the classics section. Final Years in Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he lectured on Iranian culture. Although he went into exile, his wife, the actress Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still make him emotional—and he continued to hope for a new culture and tomorrow for his homeland.