🔗 Share this article Iranian Film Titan, Bahram Beyzai, Dies At the Age of 87 Bahram Beyzai (left) with his wife, actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Profound tributes have been shared for the legendary Bahram Beyzai, a giant of Persian film and stage, who has died at the age of 87 in the US. Homeland in Mourning The headlines of Iranian newspapers mourn his loss, with dissenting figures and those who look back fondly on the Shah era also paying homage to Beyzai. "This loss is an immense tragedy for the cultural heritage of our country," said the exiled prince, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's later films were prohibited in the 1980s by the Islamic regime, a host of senior figures in the present administration have also paid tribute his legacy to Iranian culture. A Mentor to Filmmakers Many of the current crop of Iranian filmmakers have expressed their gratitude to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai showed them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of overtly political content in his work, both as a dramatist and a cinematic auteur, and always said he tried not to trade in explicit commentary. But his work over many decades sets historical, even mythic figures in opposition with oppressive religious and political systems. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of renowned poets, Beyzai was imbued in the deepest traditions of Persian culture from birth. He first rose to prominence as a theater writer, drawing on ancient myths and ceremonies. A lifelong fan of cinema, he moved into making films in the 1970s. He won renown as one of the pivotal artists in the new wave of Persian film. Navigating Censorship His most fruitful era straddled the time of the Shah and then the Islamic theocratic forces that overthrew him—with both systems constantly poised to detect hidden messages that could be seen as dissent. "Beyzai never opted for the easy way. He endured years of marginalization, enforced quiet, and exile, but he did not give up his language and his beliefs," stated Jaafar Panahi in his tribute. The Little Stranger A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many regard as his magnum opus, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to find shelter from the Iran-Iraq war. It was censored in Iran—as were other films he made in that time—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, winning an award for best film in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and spent his later years in the US, where he taught Persian studies. Even after he went into exile, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh 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.