Members of Parliament Protest the Screening of Two Licensed Films in Cinemas

Nineteen conservative members of the Iranian Parliament wrote a letter to the Minister of Culture, calling for the prevention of the screening of two films currently showing, "Oxygen" and "Mother of the Atomic Heart," labeling them as "vulgar." These parliamentarians claimed that the two films insult "sacred religions." According to Fars News Agency's report, the screening of these films has led to "criticism from the Armenian community" in Iran. However, the claims made by these parliamentarians and Fars News Agency come despite the fact that the Armenian diocese in Iran has not reacted to the screening of these films. Previously, Varand Petrosian, an Armenian actor in the film "Oxygen," stated that the church referenced in the film is a Catholic church. The film "Oxygen," directed and written by Hamed Mohammadi, is a comedy about a person who intends to emigrate. The film also humorously addresses the ban on the public appearance of former Iranian presidents. While cinemas affiliated with the Islamic Propagation Organization have boycotted this film, "Oxygen" has grossed over one billion tomans in its first nine days of screening. "Mother of the Atomic Heart," directed by Ali Ahmadzadeh, was finally screened in June 2017 after three years of disputes over censorship of parts of it and the issuance of a screening permit. The film was showcased at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in 2013. It attempts to portray a less-seen image of affluent Tehran youth with their unconventional relationships and concerns, with much of the film taking place in a car where two young girls are returning home from a night party and encounter various people along the way. Several conservative media outlets have previously claimed that the characters in this film promote "homosexual tendencies and inclinations." The letter from the conservative parliamentarians comes at a time when the Cultural Commission and conservative members of the 9th Parliament have pressured to halt the screening of at least eight films, including "I Am Not Angry," "Resurrection," "Father's House," "Tales," "Report of a Celebration," "Lovely Trash," "Calm Streets," "A Hundred Years to This Year," and "Reward." However, the majority of the 10th Parliament is composed of reformists and supporters of President Hassan Rouhani. In recent years, several other films, mostly produced with production permits, have not received public screening permission for various reasons. Films such as "Couch," "Devotee, Nazanin, Bahareh, Tina," and "We Have Time Now" are among those that have not been allowed to screen for different reasons. Reza Salehi-Amiri, the Minister of Culture, had previously requested in a letter in June that Mohammad Mehdi Heydarian, the head of the Cinema Organization, clarify the status of the confiscated films within two months. The Cinema Organization of the Ministry of Culture has not yet published a report on the status of these films.