Jamshid Akrami: 'Taxi' is a Film About Censorship

On the night of February 14, coinciding with Bahman 25, the jury of the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival awarded the Golden Bear to Iranian director Jafar Panahi for his film 'Taxi.' The top prize of the Berlinale this year was presented in the absence of Mr. Panahi, who was imprisoned following the protests of 2009 in Iran and subsequently banned from leaving the country and working. Radio Farda began a conversation with Jamshid Akrami, a film critic and professor of film and cinema in New York, to inquire about his reaction to the awarding of the Golden Bear to Jafar Panahi. Akrami expressed his happiness for the film's success, stating that it is no joke to receive the top award from one of the most prestigious festivals in the world, and he considers it one of the golden moments of Iranian cinema. He noted that he had the chance to see the film and could approach it from two perspectives: as a cinema activist who has always spoken about censorship in Iranian cinema and as a film critic. Akrami remarked that 'Taxi' reflects Panahi's social concerns, which have been evident in all his films, and while it was made under limitations, it still manages to present a real image of contemporary Iranian society. He acknowledged that this film may not be Panahi's best work compared to his previous films like 'Offside' and 'The Circle,' but it still holds significance due to the constraints the filmmaker faced. Akrami also discussed the political implications of the award, noting that the festival director admitted the event has a political dimension, and the reason for awarding the film was partly political, reflecting the judges' stance on the limitations imposed on Panahi.