🔗 Share this article Persian Cinema Giant, Beyzai, Passes Away At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound homages are pouring in for Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who has died at the age of 87 while residing in the United States. A Nation Mourns The headlines of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with opposition voices and those who reflect nostalgically on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "This loss is an immense tragedy for the art and culture of our country," said the exiled prince, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. Even though Beyzai's later films were banned in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of prominent officials in the present administration have also paid tribute his contribution to Persian arts. The Teacher of a Generation Several of the contemporary generation of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Award-winning director Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai showed them "how to stand up to oblivion." Beyzai avoided direct political references in his work, both as a playwright and a film director, and always said he tried not to deal in overt messages. But his work over countless years sets archetypal characters in conflict with authoritarian structures of power. Roots in Tradition From a family of renowned poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Iranian artistry from birth. He first rose to prominence as a playwright, inspired by ancient myths and ceremonies. A devotee of cinema, he moved into filmmaking in the 1970s. He gained acclaim as one of the key figures in the groundbreaking movement of Iranian cinema. An Enduring Voice His most fruitful era straddled the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that overthrew him—with both systems constantly poised to sniff out subtext that could be interpreted as criticism. "Beyzai never opted for the path of least resistance. He endured years of exclusion, enforced quiet, and distance, but he did not give up his language and his beliefs," said Jaafar Panahi in his tribute. The Little Stranger A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many regard as his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to find shelter from the devastating conflict. It was censored in Iran—as were subsequent works he made in that period—but later chosen by critics as the best Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Biennale, receiving an award for best film in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai finally left Iran in 2010 and lived out his final days in the US, where he lectured on Persian studies. Even after he left his homeland, his wife, the actress Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still make him emotional—and he continued to hope for a new culture and future for his homeland.