Chat Ed : From 4 May 2005, Channel 4 presents CINEMA IRAN - a season of films, documentaries and shorts celebrating Iran's world acclaimed cinema. Mark Cousins is here for a webchat after the screening of his documentary charting the rise of Iranian cinema.
Mark Cousins : Hi everyone…
Robin : Hi Mark, great film, but one thing Id like to know- do the Iranian filmmakers acknowledges other influences from world cinema - e.g. Indian parallel cinema (Ray) or Italian neo-realism?
Mark Cousins : Hi Robin. Yes, spot on. They are very influenced by Italian neo-realism, but, crucially, they don't see other western films very much.
Sanj : Mark - fascinating film. how long did it take to make and were they any problems getting any of the material cleared?
Taraneh : Dear mark what problems did you come across in the making of this programme?
Mark Cousins : It took about two months to make in total and the surprise was that, in Iran we had total access; the film-makers made it very easy for us, more so than anywhere I have ever filmed.
Ferdydurke : Hello Mark - there's an interesting comparison to be made between the recent Iranian cinema and the Czech New Wave of the 1960s - would you agree that highly ideological, even repressive contexts can be beneficial for cinema as well as limiting?
Mark Cousins : I completely agree. Quite often artists are limited by unique ways of expressing themselves, the difference is that, in the Czech new wave, they use irony and satire, where I think the Iranians have used more poetic techniques.
monkeylove : for people just growing accustomed to Iranian cinema - what are a few good ones to start on?
Mark Cousins : 20 fingers directors by Mania Akbari is a brilliant recent film and going back to the 60s, The House is Black, is unforgettable, which is directed by Faroogh Forakzad.
Lazio : As an Iranian who knows a quite a fair bit about Iranian Cinema, I enjoyed your show very much. I found it very educating and factually correct. I was surprised by its unbiased look at Iranian Cinema and the fact that it didn't involve politics into it made the documentary very unique. Great Work!
zaza : yes great documentary
rare_grooves : But I have to say brilliant programme, looking forward to all the films!
Mark Cousins : Thank you very much. It seemed to us that so much of the media coverage about Iran in the west is focused on politics and we wanted to make a film that looked more purely at the movies and what we could learn from them here.
Sahand : Mark, what made you interested in Iranian cinema
Kassana : why did you do this documentary?
Mark Cousins : I loved cinema before I got interested in Iran, but in the 1980s movies in the west were not really stimulating. Think of the Jerry Bruckheimer movies from America or the stylish, but quite empty, films in France. So when the Iranian films of the mid-80s came along it looked like they were refreshing; the language of movies was exciting.
monkeylove : what’s Turtles can fly like - i heard it was filmed at the height of the American bombing campaign in Iraq
dastan : Hi, it was great watching the documentary but there is a film I am curious about and I am wondering if it will be broadcasted on CH4. The name of this film is Turtles Can Fly
Mark Cousins : It's a landmark film, I think, not only because Bahman Ghobadi was brave enough to make a film about Iraq but also, he did it with such originality. Dastan, what Channel 4 tried to do is choose a series of landmark films, which would introduce people to the world of Iranian Cinema. Turtles Can fly is now available on DVD and it's fantastic.
ladj : II was taken with the poetry quoted at the end of your documentary, which by the way was superb; can you tell me where it's from?
Mark Cousins : It's by the poet Ha'Fez one of Iran's great national poets. People talk about his poetry a lot there and it's available in some English translations.
Disturbia_Kiss : Do you think poetry is in Iran's bloodstream? I have heard that even illiterate villagers quote the writings of Khayaam, Ha'fez and Sadi, in everyday conversations.
Mark Cousins : Exactly, people who know more about Iranian culture than I do say that their great poets are like a lens through which they see their lives. There’s a real difference between Persian culture and Anglo-Saxon culture, I think.
Film Student : Why do you think that Iranian cinema has become so popular in the last few years within the wider world and its market?
Mark Cousins : I think the answer is because western culture is quite fast and focused on surface and escapism, whereas Iranian films ask more humane questions about life. I know that sounds vague but when you watch a good Iranian film you often feel inspired.
Iranian_4eva : Mr Cousin how long did it take for you to make this documentary
Judex : Mr. Cousins, please can you tell me how Iranian films are funded? Is it an entirely state-run film industry?
Mark Cousins : There is lots of state funding for Iranian cinema, sometimes money also comes from, for example, France and the organisation MK2, but, in general, it is state-funded.
Doctor_K : i was very very impressed by your documentary and feel that it has inspired me to write my masters thesis the topic. One particular question i had was whether you feel that Iranian filmmakers that have moved from Iran to countries such as France in any way jeopardise their position as 'authentic' voices of Iranian cinema through moving away from the culture and situations which helped develop their original style and content etc?
Mark Cousins : Thank you Doctor K - I broadly agree. Kiarostami says a tree grows best where it was originally planted and there's a danger that directors deal with questions to do with being away from home rather than the bigger questions of what home is like.
Mehran : Mr Cousins, while your programme was very interesting and shows your obvious love of Iranian cinema, I feel there's a danger of condoning the actions of a very repressive and obscurantist regime. All this talk about 'purifying cinema' might just encourage those who see repression as a good thing in a society such as Iran's.
Mark Cousins : I am speaking personally when I say that the Iranian regime has been inhumane in many ways. We try to make it clear in the documentary that we were dealing with a paradox whereby strict limitations on artistic freedom lead to real achievements. The regime record has been condemned by objective international organisations and rightly so.
Fran : Do you think that as a national cinema it is more 'authentic' because of their relative isolation from other national cinemas?
cypfars : Excellent programme, Congratulations
Mark Cousins : I paused before I answered that question, but I think yes.
Sam : Are Iranian filmmakers as anti-Hollywood as they appeared in the documentary?
Mark Cousins : No, for example Samira Makhmalbaf and many others say that they quite enjoy mainstream entertainment films, but they are arguing for variety and diversity in the movie world and, like many people, are frustrated by the limited range of films available.
Afshin : Your comparison with Panahis film with Pulp Fiction shows this I think
tricky : Is there a danger of Iranian film becoming formulaic due to the massive influence of Kiarostami?
Mark Cousins : Kiarostami is a big influence because he was so talented and you could say the same about Alfred Hitchcock. I believe that Panahi’s work is very different because there is more anger in it.
Roshana : Do you think any current western directors have been inspired by Iranian cinema? Any examples?
Mark Cousins : Good questions Roshana. I know that Bernard Herzog admires Kiarostami as does Martin Scorsese. It's hard to say if he influenced them. The film industries in which they work are so very different.
Maria : How did you view the Iranians before you got involved in Iranian films and culture?
Mark Cousins : Like many western people I knew very little about the Iranians but then I drove through the country just on a holiday and I loved it. The people were nothing like they appear on CNN, the opposite in fact. I felt at home there, more so say than in Paris.
Brusk : I am also wondering if non-Persian ethnic groups take an important part in Iranian cinema, like Kurds and Azeris?.. by the way i am Kurd from Syria
Mark Cousins : Of course Bahman Ghobadi is not only Kurdish but a filmmaker of world standing there are some Azeri filmmakers but I don't know much about them to give a good answer.
Arash : what do you think will happen to Iranian cinema in 10 yrs time?
james : What do you feel is the future for Iranian cinema?
Mark Cousins : This is a very difficult question to answer Arash. The talent is there, the culture is there and the influence of great filmmakers is there, the real question, I think, is whether new directors want to go against the traditions of Iranian cinema or work with those traditions. The bigger issue, of course, is the question of democracy. I believe strongly that if Iran could become more democratic its cinema as well as other aspects of life would improve.
nakisa : what is your favourite Iranian movie of all time?
Mark Cousins : I would say my favourite Iranian film is Mohhsen Makhmalbas’, A Moment of Innocence or Kiarostami's Through the Olive Trees.
Roshana : Thank you Mark, I'm sure I can say that on behalf of hundreds of Iranians in the UK who watched your documentary
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming and talking to us Mark.
Mehran : Thank you Mr. Cousins
setareh : Thanks for making the documentary. Seeing Iran was great us 'western Iranians' who haven't been to Iran in many years
Mark Cousins : Thank you very much Roshana, goodbye.
Afshin : thank you sincerely
Mark Cousins : Make sure you watch the rest of the films in the season!
Al : Thanks Mark
pebbles : night :)
Sam : Thank you, for the documentary and this chat :)
Mark Cousins leaves the room
