Film screening: ‘Local movies can bridge cultural barriers’

‘So close so far’ portrays contrasting Iranian culture

ISLAMABAD: An Iranian film, ‘So close, so far’ was screened at Iran’s Cultural Centre on Saturday.

“Iran is famous for producing award-winning films around the world and we hope to bridge cultural barriers between Pakistan and Iran by showing our local movies,” said the deputy culture consul of Iran, Shahabuddin Darai.

While speaking of the impact of the 1979 Iranian revolution on the country’s film industry, he said “most movies had a heavy western influence earlier but after the revolution, movies started reflecting the country’s cultural and religious roots.”

‘So close, so far’ revolves around the life of Dr Alam, a successful neurologist, completely immersed in his professional work, so much so that he forgets his son, Saman, is missing. The character played by Masoud Raygan, is forced to question his staunchly scientific views of life only when his son suddenly gets diagnosed with brain tumour.

On the contrary, Nasrin, an under-trained country doctor, puts all her faith in God even in medical matters. The character is played by Elham Hamidi.

The film is set amidst the secular western influences (high-rise architecture, mobile phones and busy freeway traffic) of Tehran, contrasting the poor, religious, traditional culture of the Iranian desert side.

The story line follows Alam’s journey into the deserts of Iran in search of his son, who went on an astronomical school competition and fell in love with the night sky.

The movie casts multiple parallels between concepts of east and west, natural and man-made, and life and death.

The film takes its name as a metaphor of the proximity of galaxies, far away from us, yet much closer than other stars in the universe.

Dair announced that, henceforth, an Iranian movie will be played every month at the consulate. Moreover, Iranian language courses will also commence at the embassy from next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2015.