While ISNA news agency reported that the film 'House of Father' directed by Kianoush Ayari is awaiting screening, the Vice President of the Cultural Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly states that this film will not be screened due to objections from members of parliament. According to Fars news agency, Morteza Agha Tehrani said on Wednesday, December 3: 'In discussions we had with the officials of the Ministry of Culture, the concerns of the Cultural Commission were conveyed to them, and the result will be the non-screening of this film.' This statement comes as ISNA reported on the same day that 'House of Father' is set to be screened for audiences over 16 years old in Korosh, Azadi, Cinema Museum, Artists' House, Hoveyzeh Mashhad, and Sooreh Isfahan. Iranian filmmakers Saeed Saeedi and Masoud Abparvar expressed their happiness about the news of the film's screening in interviews with this news agency, with Saeed Saeedi calling it one of the brightest films of recent years in Iranian cinema. The First Vice President of the Cultural Commission continued: 'It is a bad occurrence that the history of a nation is attacked due to bad taste or ignorance, in such a way that it is shown that several generations of fathers in a family have a discriminatory and savage view towards their women.' The main criticisms of 'House of Father' relate to the first episode of the film, in which a father, along with his fifteen-year-old son, murders the family's daughter over honor-related issues and buries her in the basement of the house. The story of 'House of Father' continues in four other episodes, each showing the same family in the same original house at different times and their changing situation. This film was made with the budget of the police force, but after a while, the officials of this institution joined the opposition against the film and even threatened Ayari with a lawsuit after the film's screening at the Venice Film Festival. In recent months, the screening of eight films has been a topic of discussion among members of the Iranian parliament and officials of the Ministry of Culture. Ahmad Salek, the head of the Cultural Commission, stated on October 8 that he had requested the Minister of Culture to prevent the screening of eight films in a letter. Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran, responded on October 28 that no one is supposed to determine the fate of films regarding their screening or censorship, and the Ministry of Culture has its own specific regulations in this regard. Ultimately, after many ups and downs, Hossein Nooshabadi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, announced on November 20 that the films opposed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly have either been removed from the screening agenda or there was never a plan for their screening. According to Mr. Nooshabadi, the Cultural Commission of the Iranian parliament opposed the screening of seven films, and none of these films are on the screening agenda. 'Quiet Streets' and 'Reward' directed by Kamal Tabrizi, 'House of Father' by Kianoush Ayari, 'Report of a Celebration' by Ebrahim Hatamikia, 'A Hundred Years to This Year' by Saman Moghadam, 'Lovely Trash' by Mohsen Amir Yousefi, and 'I Am Not Angry' directed by Reza Dormishian are the seven films mentioned by Mr. Nooshabadi.
The Fate of the Film 'House of Father' Once Again Enters a Fog of Ambiguity
The screening of the film 'House of Father' is in jeopardy due to objections from Iranian parliament members, despite initial plans for its release. The film, which addresses sensitive themes regarding family and gender, has sparked significant controversy. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between cultural expression and political oversight in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The film 'House of Father' faces potential censorship as Iranian parliament members express objections to its screening, despite initial plans for release. This controversy highlights the ongoing struggle between cultural expression and political oversight in Iran.
- The film addresses sensitive themes related to family honor and gender violence.
- It has been previously screened at the Venice Film Festival, attracting both support and opposition.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iranian cinema often grapples with censorship, reflecting societal issues and government restrictions. Films that challenge cultural norms frequently face scrutiny from authorities.
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