Majidi’s Muhammad and Panahi’s 3 Faces: Iranian Cinema greats at the IFFK

Cinephiles will be treated to two world renowned film experiences from Iran at the 23^rd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).

The Islamic epic ‘Muhammad: The Messenger of God’ by IFFK jury chairman Majid Majidi and Jafar Panahi’s ‘3 Faces’ will be screened at the festival. The widely acclaimed Iranian films, popular among film festival audience are sure to entice those at the Kerala festival as well.

Muhammad, which is the biggest-budget production in Iranian Cinema, revolves around the Islamic prophet Muhammad’s childhood. Two sequels, portraying the later phases the prophet’s life, have been planned. The film co-written and co-produced by Majidi has its scores set by musical maestro A R Rahman. The cinematography has been handled by Vittorio Storaro. The 2015 release was selected as the official Iranian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film. Primarily shot in the colossal set created in the city of Qom near Tehran, the film has several scenes shot in South Africa as well. The big screen picture rose to global fame and acclaim, as it is regarded to be the first flawless depiction of the prophet’s life. The film features under the Jury Films’ section at the festival.

‘3 Faces’, which is screened under the World Cinema category, features Panahi himself – one of the leaders of the Iranian New Wave. It is his fourth film made under his 20-year filmmaking ban imposed by the Iranian regime and one of his boldest attempts. The film, which has its Madison premiere on Wednesday (Nov 28) at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, opens with disturbing cell phone footage of a young Iranian woman, Marziyeh (Marziyeh Rezaei), saying that she will commit suicide because her repressive family won’t let her pursue her dreams of becoming an actress. Internationally recognized as one of the most influential Iranian filmmakers, he, and actress Behnaz Jafari, who acts as herself, go in search for Marziyeh, in the film. The film won Panahi and co-writer Nadar Saeivar the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival.