BASSIDJI
a film by Mehran Tamadon
Bassidji
A film by Mehran Tamadon
- 2009
- Switzerland, France
- 114 minutes
- VO Arabic – FR, DE subtitles
During close to three years, Mehran Tamadon encountered the most extreme defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran (the bassidjis) to try and better understand them. As an Iranian living in France, atheist and the son of communist activists, the director had everything to offend the beliefs of the people who respect the regime’s dogmas. However, a dialogue was established. But in between the games of seduction rhetoric, the moments of truth and the reality of the religious and political Iranian system, how far will they go to understand one another?
Bassidji
A film by Mehran Tamadon
- 2009
- Switzerland, France
- 114 minutes
- VO Arabic – FR, DE subtitles
During close to three years, Mehran Tamadon encountered the most extreme defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran (the bassidjis) to try and better understand them. As an Iranian living in France, atheist and the son of communist activists, the director had everything to offend the beliefs of the people who respect the regime’s dogmas. However, a dialogue was established. But in between the games of seduction rhetoric, the moments of truth and the reality of the religious and political Iranian system, how far will they go to understand one another?
Awards
Jilhava International Documentary Film Festival
- Best documentary award
FESTIVALS
World Premiere : Visions du Réel
Etats Généraux du film documentaire, Lussas
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes
Festival International des Films Documentaires et d’Animation de Leipzig
Doclisboa
Festival dei Popoli
Jilhava International Documentary Film Festival
Cast & crew
Screenplay
Mehran Tamadon in collaboration with Laetitia Lemerle
Photography
Madjid Gorjian
Editing
Andrée Davanture
Rodolphe Molla
Sound Editing and mixing
Jérôme Cuendet
Colour grading
Cécile Cheurlot
Graphic design
François Dulex – Oficina
Production assistants
Elodie Brunner
Pascale Pigeon
Production
CDP
Interland
Box Productions
Mehran Tamadon
Distribution
Switzerland
Outside the Box
France
Aloest Distribution
International sales
Urban Distribution
Broadcasts
RTS – RSI
Director’s bio
Iranian architect and filmmaker Mehran Tamadon arrived in France as a boy of 12, in 1984. In 2000 he returned to Iran, working there for four years as an architect. Since 2002 his career has taken a distinctly artistic turn as a filmmaker. In 2004 he made his first documentary, Behesht Zahra, Mothers of Martyrs. He followed this in 2009 with his first feature-length documentary, Bassidji, about the defenders of the Islamic republic of Iran, which was selected for numerous international festivals.
