The first Iranian movie to win an Oscar – A Separation – was met with enthusiasm across the world, but local authorities in Tehran have cancelled the celebrations to honor the film’s director, Asghar Farhadi.
According to the local Ilna news agency, there were no official explanations as to why the ceremony marking the phenomenal success of the Iranian family drama with foreign audiences was called off at home where it was hailed as Iran’s “triumph over Israel”.
Some Iranian conservatives have been reportedly displeased with the way ‘A Separation’ tackles such issues as family values and traditions, the role of women in a religious society and gender inequality, as well as the desire by a number of young Iranians to leave the country.
Iranian Authorities are notorious for mistreating national filmmakers with a number of directors and actors either arrested or fleeing the country to Europe or America.
Last year Jafar Panahi, the creator of the drama ‘The Circle’ which depicts women under Iran’s Islamist regime, was sentenced to a six-year house arrest and a 20-year ban on filming after being convicted of “making propaganda” against Iran’s ruling system.
Earlier this year, after 20 years of service, the authorities shut down an independent film group – the House of Cinema – which brought together Iran’s top filmmakers, including Farhadi.