🔗 Share this article Iranian Film Titan, Beyzai, Passes Away At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who has died aged 87 in the US. Homeland in Mourning The front pages of publications in Iran lament his loss, with dissenting figures and those who reflect nostalgically on the Shah era also offering their respects to Beyzai. "This loss is a great loss 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 later films were banned in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of senior figures in the present administration have also paid tribute his contribution to Iranian culture. The Teacher of a Generation Many of the current crop of Persian directors have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai taught them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai avoided overtly political content in his work, both as a playwright and a cinematic auteur, and always said he tried not to trade in overt messages. But his oeuvre over many decades places archetypal characters in conflict with authoritarian structures of power. A Cultural Foundation From a family of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the deepest traditions of Iranian artistry from birth. He first rose to prominence as a playwright, 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 new wave of Persian film. An Enduring Voice His most productive period spanned the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with each regime constantly poised to sniff out hidden messages that could be interpreted as criticism. "Beyzai did not choose the easy way. He withstood years of marginalization, enforced quiet, and exile, but he never abandoned his language and his beliefs," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many regard as his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was censored in Iran—as were other films he made in that time—but later chosen by film critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a restored version at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for best film in the heritage category. A Hopeful Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he taught Persian studies. Although he left his homeland, 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 future for his native land.