Kamal Tabrizi is one of the Iranian filmmakers whose works are watched with some political intentions rather than be evaluated by thrie cinematic technical dimension. Even if Tabrizi’s films be narrated in simple words, some different interpretations will have, however, some critics believe that he is far from the good satire of his works but his idea is different and says: “I’ve always tried to be not far from my favorite cinema.”
“Sly” the latest work of the director is being screened in non-competitive section of 36th FIFF. We had an interview with him due to screening of his newest film;
Works of some professional famous directors like you and Bahman Farman Ara couldn’t be present in competitive section of the festival but your work could be selected in Magic Lantern. How do you think about this issue, do you evaluate it positive or not?
All of international film festivals worldwide have some pre-determined mission which select films based on that target. This is very natural process that different films can pass those filters and some not, this is based on the genre, atmosphere, and structure.
After seeing the poster of “Sly”, some got political takes from it, what do you think as the director?
“Sly” is a critical satire and it is totally social which even seems political in the story narrating!
Is it possible that because of pre-judgments, the film couldn’t find the way to be selected in the competition?
I don’t think so and I should say that “Sly” have been made for public screening and audience.
I asked the question to know your comment about in participating in FIFF. It seems that FIFF could open its place among cinemagoers and experts well and many directors are interested in having their premieres at there. What do you think?
My far wish and desire is communicating of festivals with people! If a festivals be too intellectual and far from the people and routine life, it can be the Achilles’ heel for it. my sense for being present in every each festival is for having this communication! I never forget something happened for me in one of my trips. I stood in a cinema line with some of my friends and a very ordinary guy came and asked us: “What is it going on here? And we all shocked answered him that here is Cannes Film Festival!
It seems that Mirkarimi has the power of communicating with right and left parties and his international attitude has caused that cineastes accept FIFF more than other cinematic event. What’s your idea?
I think holding FIFF is completely eye-catching and different! Management with creation of the new director has made some events that are not happened in other Iranian film festivals. I can say that the model of holding and the taste which is present in FIFF is kind of encouragement for cineastes and this is what Iranian honorable cinema is deserve for it. Seriousness and importance in holding a festival is the reason for cinephilles and cineastes to get involved with it and takes it more serious than other ones.
While “Sly” has a critical subject and the released short video of it has imagined the atmosphere of it, are you worried of its screening?
Unfortunately, the present condition of Iranian cinema is in a way that cineastes must be worried of everything!
Some critics believe that “Sly” is the return of Kamal Tabrizi to his favorite cinema.
How do you feel about this comment?
I’ve always tried to be not far from my favorite cinema and always like what I’ve made, I’ve never made what I didn’t like and I won’t do it! However, I think a filmmaker who makes good films even if not accepted in film festivals, won’t be ignored.
It is heard that screening of “Sly” get a great publicity and many tickets have been sold for it. How do you feel about its audience?
If “Sly” be tolerated by its critics, it will be welcomed by its fans. At least this is what I think!
Sly Seeks Power
18th film of Kamal Tabrizi named “Sly” was supposed to name “Hard-Mouthed” will be screened soon. The film is comedy and it is the story of a character named “Ghodrat” acting by Hamed Behdad who seeks to be powerful.
Hamed Behdad, Vishka Asayesh, Azadeh Samadi, Reza Naji Mani Haghighi, Mohammad Bahrani, Isa Yousefipour, with presence of Bomrani Music Band and Siavash Cheraghipour, Morteza Zare, Behzad Ghadianloo, Farhan Moinzadeh are actors of “Sly”. Aidin Sayyar Sari is the writer and Javad Norouz Baygi is the producer of the film. All the shooting has been done in Tehran and Turkey. In some predictions, it seems that “Sly” will be screened and get a great deal of publicity with a lot of noise!