🔗 Share this article Iranian Film Titan, Bahram Beyzai, Dies At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes are pouring in for Bahram Beyzai, a colossus of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died at the age of 87 while residing in the United States. A Nation Mourns The front pages of publications in Iran lament his loss, with dissenting figures and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also offering their respects to Beyzai. "This loss is a great loss for the art and culture of our country," remarked Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. Even though Beyzai's later films were prohibited 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 Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai showed them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of 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 work over many decades places archetypal characters in opposition with oppressive religious and political systems. Roots in Tradition From a family of renowned poets, Beyzai was steeped in the deepest traditions of Iranian artistry from birth. He first found fame as a playwright, inspired by Persian legend and ritual. A lifelong fan of cinema, he transitioned to making films 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 straddled the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that deposed him—with each regime constantly poised to sniff out hidden messages that could be interpreted as dissent. "Beyzai did not choose the path of least resistance. He endured years of exclusion, imposed silence, and distance, but he never abandoned his artistic voice and his beliefs," stated Jaafar Panahi 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 banned in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that time—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 Film Festival, winning an award for outstanding feature in the classics section. Final Years in Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he lectured on Iranian culture. Although he went into exile, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just hearing the word "Iran" would still bring tears to his eyes—and he continued to hope for a new culture and future for his homeland.