Reactions to the Screening of 'Taxi' in Berlin

On Saturday at the 65th Berlin Film Festival, the third Iranian film was screened, allowing all representatives of Iranian cinema to have at least once appeared on the screens of Berlin cinemas. While the film 'Mother of the Atomic Heart' by Ali Ahmadzadeh was shown in the Forum section of the Berlin Festival for media representatives, the festival was heavily influenced by reactions to another Iranian film, 'Taxi,' which many referred to as the best film in recent years by Jafar Panahi. 'Taxi': Reception in Berlin, Criticism in Tehran. By Saturday, 7 out of the 19 films competing for awards had been screened. Among these 7 films, 'Taxi' is considered one of the main contenders for the award. The film is currently ranked among the top 3 in critics' ratings, and many well-known critics have referred to it as one of the best works of Jafar Panahi. Despite this reception, a letter from Hojjatollah Ayubi, the head of the Iranian Cinema Organization, to Dieter Kosslick, the secretary of the Berlin Festival, indicates the dissatisfaction of Iranian cinema officials with the film's screening in Berlin. In his letter, Ayubi expressed regret that Berlin, by screening Panahi's new film, aims to 'put everyone in the taxi of new misunderstandings against the people of Iran.' The main official of Iranian cinema stated that Mr. Panahi enjoys all the benefits of life freely in Iran but cannot make films due to the law. He also subtly referred to the statements of Berlin officials, writing that the sound of politics is coming from the festival. Although this letter has not received a response so far, it is unlikely to affect the judgment and approach of the Berlin Festival. So far, evidence suggests that 'Taxi' is a serious contender. 'Mother of the Atomic Heart': Contradiction in Ambiguity. The third Iranian film screened in Berlin is another work from a new generation of Iranian filmmakers. The film attempts to portray a less-seen image of affluent Tehran youth with unconventional connections and concerns, which in the middle of its story takes on a blend of fantasy and imagination. A significant portion of the film takes place in a car, where two young girls are returning home from a night party and encounter various individuals along the way. One of these individuals, despite initial companionship, becomes a deadly threat. The film is somewhat considered a continuation of the previous film by its maker, 'Kami's Party,' which here includes clearer references to the political and social conditions in Iran, such as the nuclear program and immigration. However, the filmmaker's perspective on these issues, like the film itself, is ambiguous, even contradictory, and simplistic. A surprising point is the effort of Mohammad Reza Golzar, a star of Iranian commercial cinema, to play a role different from his usual self in this film. In the coming days, several serious contenders for the Golden Bear of the festival will be screened, including the new film by selective American filmmaker Terrence Malick titled 'Knight of Cups.' Babak Ghafouri Azar is a producer at Radio Farda and follows developments in the cinema and theater sector. He joined Radio Farda in 2010 and has published various investigative reports on events during the first decade of the Islamic Republic's establishment. Babak Ghafouri Azar began journalism in Iran in 2001.