http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=214077
Iranian director making doc on Cuba
Tehran Times Art Desk
www.tehrantimes.com
TEHRAN -- An Iranian director is currently making a documentary on Cuba over
the past 51 years.
The idea for making the documentary, entitled "Fifty-One Years of
Independence", came ten years ago when director Shahrokh Bahrololumi as
assistant director accompanied filmmaker Masud Kimiaii on a trip to Cuba, where
they planned to begin shooting "The Plague", Bahrololumi told the Persian
service of ISNA on Monday.
"The film was not shot there and as a result the crew returned home after a
40-day sojourn in Cuba," he said.
"As we were returning home, Kimiaii wished that we had at least made a
documentary on Cuba during that time," he added.
Filming of "Fifty-One Years of Independence" has been underway since a month
ago.
The 90-minute documentary will focus on the country's music, the Cubans'
interest in Iranian music and traditional ceremonies such as Iranian New Year's
celebration Noruz, and many other issues.
According Bahrololumi, they got access to a perfect archive of films in the
country, which many Cubans have never seen so far. Some of these films are
being used in his documentary.
"Cuba achieved independence 51 years ago, after which the United States has
imposed sanctions against the country ever since," he said.
"The sanctions have had a negative impact on culture and daily life in the
country, but what encourages the people to continue with life is their own
special spirit of struggle."
"The blood of revolutionaries such as Che Guevara is flowing in the veins of
the people and the struggle is going on. Cuba is a byword for its arts of dance
and architecture; every corner is like a tableau. All of these as well as the
people's joie de vivre will be shown in the documentary," he stated.
Shooting will last until the Iranian New Year beginning on March 21 and
Bahrololumi plans to dedicate it to Kimiaii.
Photo: Shahrokh Bahrololumi is seen behind the camera (C) on location in Cuba
for a shoot of "Fifty-One Years of Independence" in an undated photo.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
