🔗 Share this article Persian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread homages are pouring in for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who has died at the age of 87 in the US. A Nation Mourns The front pages of publications in Iran lament his loss, with opposition voices and those who reflect nostalgically on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "This loss is a great loss for the art and culture of our country," remarked the exiled prince, the exiled 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 current government have also paid tribute his legacy to Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Several of the current crop of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi noted that Beyzai taught them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai avoided direct political references in his work, both as a dramatist and a film director, and always maintained he tried not to deal in overt messages. But his work over countless years sets historical, even mythic figures in conflict with authoritarian structures of power. A Cultural Foundation Hailing from a lineage of renowned poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Persian culture from birth. He first rose to prominence as a playwright, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A lifelong fan of cinema, he moved into filmmaking in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the pivotal artists in the new wave of Persian film. Navigating Censorship His most productive period straddled the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with both systems ever ready to detect hidden messages that could be seen as criticism. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He withstood years of marginalization, enforced quiet, and exile, but he never abandoned his language and his beliefs," said the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the 1979 Revolution, he produced what many regard as his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a young child who tries to take refuge from the Iran-Iraq war. It was censored in Iran—as were other films he made in that period—but later voted by critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was screened in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Biennale, winning an award for outstanding feature in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and lived out his final days in the US, where he taught Iranian culture. Even after he went into exile, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh 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.