The Screening of the Film 'Resurrection' Delayed Again

The public screening of the film 'Resurrection', directed by Ahmadreza Darvish, which has been completed for years, has once again been postponed until what is described as 'the approval of the scholars and authorities'. This film, which finished filming in 2010, was supposed to be released on July 15. On the same day, the Cinema Organization issued a statement reminding that 'in consideration of the position and dignity of the esteemed religious authorities and prominent religious scholars, we remind that the screening of the film 'Resurrection' will be postponed until the approval of some esteemed religious authorities is secured.' The statement did not provide details about the opposing authorities or how long it might take to secure their approval. This film, which revolves around the events of Karbala in 680 AD, was previously shown privately to government members in January 2014 and at the Fajr Film Festival in Tehran in February of the same year. Despite this, according to the official Iranian news agency 'IRNA', 'it faced some protests regarding historical distortion and disrespect towards the infallible Imams, which delayed the issuance of the screening permit each time.' Last September, it was reported that the film had received a screening permit with some changes. However, the public screening of the film remains postponed indefinitely. In 2014, figures and media close to the conservatives in Iran had launched attacks against this film and the portrayal of religious figures in it. Notably, Naser Makarem Shirazi, a Shia cleric in Iran, wrote a letter to the head of the Cinema Organization expressing that some had complained to his office about the portrayal of the son of the first Imam of Shia Islam in the film 'Resurrection' and questioned, 'Is the Cinema Organization going to break the sanctity of the sacred and cross red lines?' At that time, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran announced that images of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas should be removed or placed in a halo of light. Various protests from conservative groups in Iran have practically affected various films over the past years, especially since the rise of Hassan Rouhani's government. These individuals have also held gatherings that were accompanied by threats. This situation, along with the government's concessions to these movements, has faced criticism for its support of works that it itself permits to be produced or screened.