🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Titan, Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes are pouring in 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 headlines of publications in Iran mourn his loss, with opposition voices and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "This loss is an immense tragedy for the cultural heritage of our country," remarked 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 host of prominent officials in the current government have also paid tribute his contribution to Iranian culture. The Teacher of a Generation Several of the contemporary generation of Iranian filmmakers have acknowledged their debt 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 playwright and a film director, and always said he tried not to deal in explicit commentary. But his oeuvre over many decades sets archetypal characters in opposition with oppressive religious and political systems. A Cultural Foundation Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the deepest traditions of Iranian artistry from birth. He first found fame as a theater writer, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A lifelong fan of cinema, he transitioned to filmmaking in the 1970s. He gained acclaim as one of the pivotal artists in the groundbreaking movement of Persian film. Navigating Censorship His most fruitful era spanned the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with each regime ever ready to detect subtext that could be seen as dissent. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He withstood years of exclusion, enforced quiet, and exile, but he never abandoned his language and his convictions," said Jaafar Panahi in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the 1979 Revolution, he produced what many regard as his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a young child who tries to find shelter from the devastating conflict. It was censored in Iran—as were other films he made in that period—but later chosen by film critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Biennale, receiving 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 Persian studies. Even after he went into exile, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still make him emotional—and he continued to hope for a renewed spirit and future for his native land.