The Nights of Zayandeh-rood

Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s story of an anthropologist and his daughter unfolds during three different periods: before, during and after the Iranian Revolution. The daughter works in the ER at a local hospital, where she treats suicidal patients. The reason behind each suicide attempt is different, especially before the Revolution compared to after it. Looking for a reason to be alive, one of the suicidal patients falls in love with the anthropologist’s daughter. However, it is a love that proves to be impossible.

The Nights of Zayandeh-rood was shown just once before being cut and banned by Iranian censors. In 2016, some parts of the original negative were stolen from the archives of the Iranian censorship committee and smuggled to the West, allowing Makhmalbaf to restore the film. The restored version opened the Venice Classics section of the 2016 Venice International Film festival.

Event/ The screening will be introduced by Dr Dalia Mostafa, Lecturer in Arabic and Comparative Literature at the University of Manchester, where Dr Mostafa also teaches Contemporary Cinema of the Middle East and North Africa.

Duration:
65 minutes

Translated title:
Shabhaye Zayendeh-Rood

Languages:
Persian

Country of origin:
Iran

Year of production:
1990