🔗 Share this article Persian Film Giant, Beyzai, Passes Away At the Age of 87 Beyzai pictured alongside his spouse, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai Widespread tributes are pouring in for Bahram Beyzai, a colossus of Iranian cinema and theatre, 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 offering their respects to Beyzai. "His passing is a great loss for the cultural heritage of our country," remarked the exiled prince, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran. Although Beyzai's subsequent works were prohibited in the 1980s by the theocratic government, a host of prominent officials in the current government have also paid tribute his legacy to Persian arts. A Mentor to Filmmakers Several of the current crop of Persian directors have acknowledged their debt to him. Jaafar Panahi said that Beyzai showed them "the way to resist oblivion." Beyzai steered clear of direct political references in his work, both as a playwright and a cinematic auteur, and always maintained he tried not to deal in explicit commentary. But his oeuvre over many decades places historical, even mythic figures in conflict with authoritarian structures of power. Roots in Tradition Hailing from a lineage of celebrated poets, Beyzai was steeped in the richest heritage of Persian culture from birth. He first rose to prominence as a playwright, drawing on Persian legend and ritual. 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 spanned the time of the Shah and then the revolutionary government that deposed him—with each regime constantly poised to sniff out hidden messages that could be interpreted as criticism. "Beyzai never opted for the path of least resistance. He endured years of marginalization, imposed silence, and distance, but he never abandoned his language and his convictions," said the filmmaker in his tribute. A Masterpiece Amidst Conflict A few years after the Iranian Revolution, he produced what many consider his masterpiece, Bashu, the Little Stranger, about a small boy who tries to take refuge from the devastating conflict. It was banned in Iran—as were other films he made in that period—but later chosen by critics as the greatest Iranian film of all time. The film was shown in a newly remastered print at this year's Venice Film Festival, winning an award for best film in the heritage category. Final Years in Exile Beyzai ultimately departed Iran in 2010 and lived out his final days in the US, where he taught Persian studies. Even after he left his homeland, his wife, the actress Mozhdeh Shamsai, said just the sound of the word "Iran" would still make him emotional—and he remained ever hopeful for a renewed spirit and future for his native land.