Our take
This incredible documentary is about the elusive Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess, whose work has the uniqueness of a Picasso or a Salvador Dalí.
But unlike his European counterparts, most of Mohassess’ work has been destroyed. Some in the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in Iran but most, interestingly, by the artist himself.
After the revolution, he went into exile. For 40 years his whereabouts remained unknown — until an Iranian filmmaker based in Paris tracked him in a hotel in Rome.
Very early in the film, director Mitra Farahani points out that Mohassess died half an hour after one of their filming sessions.
The urgency of their conversations, the genius of Mohassess and his relationship to his art, and the uniqueness of the untold story of his life, all make this more than just another documentary. It’s a work of immeasurable historic value.
What it won
Berlin
1 nom
The story
Bahman Mohassess was a celebrated artist at the time of the Shah. Trained in Italy, he created sculptures and paintings in his homeland. But audiences often took offence at the pronounced phalli on his mostly naked bronze figures and his work was regularly censored. All traces of him were lost after the revolution. It was said he destroyed his remaining paintings and disappeared.
Elsewhere
"Though he does it with a grin, Mohassess rages against the dying of the light as well as many of the things the world presented him with during his life."
— Godfrey Cheshire
"Though shy on background info, the docu offers a fascinating portrait of Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess."
— Jay Weissberg
The details
Aswang
Alyx Ayn Arumpac
The Other Dream Team
Marius A. Markevicius & Marius Markevicius
There Are No Fakes
Jamie Kastner
Prophet’s Prey
Amy J. Berg
This Is Not a Film
Jafar Panahi & Mojtaba Mirtahmasb
Undefeated
Daniel Lindsay & T. J. Martin
On the Record
Amy Ziering & Kirby Dick
Wojnarowicz
Chris McKim
Who picked it
Bilal Zouheir is the founder of A Good Movie to Watch. He is based in the US and a member of the Nevada Film Critics Society. He grew up in Morocco, where he learned English from watching movies. Bilal's work with A Good Movie to Watch is focused on offering an alternative to streaming algorithms, which are often used as commercial tools by streaming services.
This is hands down one of the best films I have ever seen. Having witnessed the Revolution I can easily tell you that what has been spoken in this film is authentic. If you love art as well, your pleasure is doubled.