🔗 Share this article Persian Cinema Giant, Beyzai, Dies Aged 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread tributes have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Iranian cinema and theatre, who has died aged 87 while residing in the United States. Homeland in Mourning The front pages of publications in Iran mourn his loss, with dissenting figures and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "His passing is an immense tragedy for the cultural heritage of our country," remarked the exiled prince, son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's later films were prohibited in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of prominent officials in the current government have also paid tribute his contribution to Iranian culture. The Teacher of a Generation Many of the current crop of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai showed them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of overtly political content in his work, both as a dramatist and a film director, and always said he tried not to trade in overt messages. But his oeuvre over many decades sets historical, even mythic figures in opposition with oppressive religious and political systems. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was imbued in the richest heritage of Iranian artistry from birth. He first found fame as a playwright, inspired by Persian legend and ritual. A devotee of cinema, he transitioned to making films in the 1970s. He gained acclaim as one of the pivotal artists in the groundbreaking movement of Iranian cinema. Navigating Censorship His most fruitful era straddled the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with both systems constantly poised to detect hidden messages that could be seen as criticism. "Beyzai never opted for the easy way. He endured years of marginalization, imposed silence, and exile, but he did not give up his artistic voice and his beliefs," stated the filmmaker in his tribute. The Little Stranger A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was censored in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that period—but later voted by film critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was screened in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for outstanding feature in the heritage category. A Hopeful Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and lived out his final days in the US, where he lectured on Iranian culture. Even after he left his homeland, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still bring tears to his eyes—and he continued to hope for a renewed spirit and future for his native land.