Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 11/21/2009 12:45 PM | Life
Hollywood rules the world's film industry, while Bollywood has its loyal international audience. In the case of Iran, it has stolen the hearts of many with its soul-catching movies.
If you still remember the famous Children of Heaven, then you know it only took a pair of shoes to make the audience understand what poverty and family relationship are all about. A simple, yet meaningful story that gives us more than just a drama.
"The stories depicted in Iranian movies are far from most Western movies that mainly highlight violence and sensuality," said senior actress Jenny Rachman, president of the Indonesian Film Artist Association (Parfi). "They're high quality movies dealing with issues of religion, humanity, morality and patriotism," she added.
Working with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Indonesia, Jenny and her Parfi fellow brought the richness of Iranian movies to Indonesia. Under the three-day Iranian Film Festival that kicked off on Nov. 16, five international award-winning movies Hayat (Life), Ghoflsaz (Key Maker), Charkh (Wheel), Kheili Dur Kheili Nazdik (So Close yet So Far) and Har Shab Tanhaye (Alone Every Night) were screened at the Haji Usmar Ismail Film Center in Jakarta.
"After I watched Hayat yesterday, I was really tired," actress Ayu Azhari laughed, but quickly added, "I mean, I was emotionally exhausted."
"It felt like I forgot about everything else."
Hollywood rules the world's film industry, while Bollywood has its loyal international audience. In the case of Iran, it has stolen the hearts of many with its soul-catching movies.
If you still remember the famous Children of Heaven, then you know it only took a pair of shoes to make the audience understand what poverty and family relationship are all about. A simple, yet meaningful story that gives us more than just a drama.
"The stories depicted in Iranian movies are far from most Western movies that mainly highlight violence and sensuality," said senior actress Jenny Rachman, president of the Indonesian Film Artist Association (Parfi). "They're high quality movies dealing with issues of religion, humanity, morality and patriotism," she added.
Working with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Indonesia, Jenny and her Parfi fellow brought the richness of Iranian movies to Indonesia. Under the three-day Iranian Film Festival that kicked off on Nov. 16, five international award-winning movies Hayat (Life), Ghoflsaz (Key Maker), Charkh (Wheel), Kheili Dur Kheili Nazdik (So Close yet So Far) and Har Shab Tanhaye (Alone Every Night) were screened at the Haji Usmar Ismail Film Center in Jakarta.
"After I watched Hayat yesterday, I was really tired," actress Ayu Azhari laughed, but quickly added, "I mean, I was emotionally exhausted."
"It felt like I forgot about everything else."