A Moment of Innocence
This cycle revisits some of the milestone films of Mohsen and Samira Makhmalbaf's respective careers, using high-quality 35mm prints from our collections. The former, along with Abbas Kiarostami, was a leading figure in the new wave of Iranian cinema, before being forced into exile by the regime's hostility. The second, his daughter, made her first film at the age of 18 and, in the space of five features, has established herself as one of the most talented contemporary directors. As well as focusing on Iranian society, both have also addressed the situation of people in neighboring countries, like Afghanistan, in their films.
Under the Shah, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, a 17-year-old pro-democracy boy, was sentenced to a five-year imprisonment for wounding a policeman during a demonstration. Twenty years later, Makhmalbaf, a former officer who became a famous film director, decides to make a film about these events. Each chooses an actor to play his "self", and their encounters lead to intense interactions.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Mohsen Makhmalbaf is an Iranian screenwriter, director, editor, producer, actor and cinematographer. He belongs to the new wave of Iranian cinema. His daughters, Samira and Hana Makhmalbaf, are also film directors. Before the Iranian revolution, he became involved in politics, was arrested and imprisoned for over four years, only to be released after the revolution. He gave up politics and turned his attention to culture. He began writing and making films. He also published books, seventeen to this day, translated into over ten languages. His films have been shown in over forty countries and have been presented over a thousand times at international film festivals. By 2002, he had won 26 awards. In 2000, Boston University awarded him its Special Prize. In 2013, he was president of the jury at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival. Two years later, in 2015, he presided over the jury at the 39th Hong Kong International Film Festival.
