Bahram Beyzai, one of Iran’s most influential filmmakers and playwrights, has died aged 87 in the United States, prompting widespread tributes. Iranian newspapers fronted their pages with his passing, with voices from opposition groups and supporters of the Shah-era alike paying their respects.
Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, described Beyzai’s death as «a great loss for the art and culture of our country.»
Despite many of his later films being banned in the 1980s under the Islamic regime, prominent figures in today’s government also acknowledged his impact on Iranian culture. Several contemporary Iranian filmmakers, including Cannes-winning director Jaafar Panahi, have cited Beyzai’s work as formative. Panahi said Beyzai taught them «how to stand up to oblivion.»
A Lifelong Dedication to Persian Culture
Beyzai avoided explicit political messaging in his plays and films, insisting he did not trade in overt statements. Yet his works often explored historical and mythic figures in conflict with authoritarian religious and political systems.
Born into a family of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in Persian cultural traditions from an early age. He initially gained recognition as a playwright, drawing inspiration from Persian legend and ritual. A lifelong cinema enthusiast, he transitioned to filmmaking in the 1970s and became a key figure in the Iranian New Wave.
His career spanned both the Shah’s rule and the Islamic revolution, periods during which authorities scrutinised his work for hidden dissent.
Panahi noted in tribute that Beyzai «did not choose the easy way. He endured years of exclusion, imposed silence, and distance, but he did not give up his language and his beliefs.»
Enduring Legacy Through Film
Following the Iranian Revolution, Beyzai produced what is widely considered his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a boy seeking refuge from the Iran-Iraq war. Though banned in Iran, critics later voted it the greatest Iranian film ever. A restored version was screened at this year’s Venice Film Festival, receiving the best film award in the classics section.
Beyzai left Iran in 2010, spending his final years in the US teaching Iranian culture. His wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said that hearing the word «Iran» would still bring tears to his eyes, reflecting his lifelong hope for a renewed culture and future for his homeland.
