🔗 Share this article Iranian Cinema Giant, Bahram Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound homages have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a colossus of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died at the age of 87 in the US. A Nation Mourns The front pages of publications in Iran mourn his loss, with dissenting figures and those who reflect nostalgically on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "His passing is an immense tragedy for the art and culture of our country," said Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. Even though Beyzai's subsequent works were banned in the 1980s by the Islamic regime, a number of prominent officials in the current government have also acknowledged his legacy to Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Several of the current crop of Persian directors have expressed their gratitude to him. Award-winning director Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai taught them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of direct political references in his work, both as a dramatist and a cinematic auteur, and always maintained he tried not to deal in overt messages. But his oeuvre over many decades sets archetypal characters in opposition with oppressive religious and political systems. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Persian culture 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 key figures in the groundbreaking movement of Persian film. An Enduring Voice His most fruitful era spanned the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with each regime ever ready to sniff out subtext that could be seen as criticism. "Beyzai never opted for the easy way. He endured years of exclusion, imposed silence, and exile, but he never abandoned his artistic voice and his beliefs," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was banned in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that time—but later chosen by critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was screened in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for best film in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he taught Persian studies. Even after he went into exile, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just hearing the word "Iran" would still make him emotional—and he continued to hope for a new culture and tomorrow for his native land.