Moharram Zaynalzadeh

Un jeune homme idéaliste de dix-sept ans manifeste contre le chah, mais il donne un coup de couteau contre un policier et se retrouve en prison pour une peine de cinq ans. Vingt ans plus tard, il est devenu le célèbre réalisateur Mohssen Makhmalbaf. L'ancien policier vient un jour le voir pour lui demander de réaliser un film sur ces événements du passé. Chacun choisit un acteur pour interpréter le personnage de leur jeunesse. Ils passent une journée entière ensemble, afin de mieux se connaître. Le policier raconte à son acteur ce qu'il faut faire pour interpréter son rôle, et même comment offrir une fleur à une jeune fille qui vient demander l'heure tous les jours. Le réalisateur discute avec son acteur à propos de livres, du salut de l'humanité et comment l'on peut cacher un couteau dans un morceau de pain.

En trois épisodes, le film scrute les entrailles de la pauvreté urbaine dans la société contemporaine iranienne. Le premier épisode raconte les difficultés d’un couple qui cherche quelqu’un pour adopter leur nouveau-né. Le second décrit la solitude d’un homme mentalement déficient qui s’occupe de sa mère. Le dernier, intitulé le camelot, est l’histoire d’un jeune contrebandier accusé d’avoir donné ses camarades à la police.

The silence of this sleepy little town is soon disturbed when the residents begin to receive threatening phone calls. No one knows who is making them. The police fail to find any evidence leading to the anonymous offender. It seems the further they investigate, the less they know. Is it possible that the whole town is in danger? An intense and captivating horror that is filled with suspense.

Director Mohsen Makhmalbaf claims to have never seen a movie before making his first film. Doubtful as it sounds, this boast matches perfectly with the controversial artist's personae. Stardust Stricken -- Mohsen Makhmalbaf: A Portrait documents the work of this Iranian filmmaker. After spending time in prison for political dissidence, Makhmalbaf discovered the social potential of the cinema. Some of his projects include Marriage of the Blessed and The Actor. While creating around 20 films, the outspoken director established new ideas about the nature of his work. In this release, Makhmalbaf speaks about art, human behavior, and his evolving fundamentalist beliefs.

Makhmalbaf puts an advertisement in the papers calling for an open casting for his next movie. However when hundreds of people show up, he decides to make a movie about the casting and the screen tests of the would-be actors.

The wife of Nasim, an Afghan immigrant in Iran, is gravely ill. He needs money to pay for her care, but his day labor digging wells does not pay enough. A friend connects Nasim to a two-bit promoter who sells tickets to watch Nasim ride a bicycle continuously for a week. The promoter brings in sick and aged spectators, haranguing them to find hope in Nasim's strength. Aided by his son, who feeds him as he rides, Nasim grinds out the days and shivering nights. Local officials believe this may be a plot and Nasim may be a spy; they try to sabotage him as do those who bet he won't finish the week. Will desperation alone get Nasim the money? Is any triumph an illusion?

Four Iranian soldiers are sent deep into Iraqi territory during the Iran-Iraq War to conduct a reconnaissance mission, with the chances of their safe return slim to none.

Haji is severely traumatized by the war with Iraq. Back from the front, he's unable to adapt to civilian life. Despite family opposition, his fiancée stands by him as together they challenge both the authority of family and state to lead their own lives.