Iranian cinema

About this course

The course traces the formation of Iran’s film industry and considers how the Shah’s regime, the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War shaped film production and representation. It examines the Iranian New Wave of the 1960s and 1970s, New Iranian Cinema of the 1990s, and the development of transnational and diasporic filmmaking. Teaching combines presentations, film clips and class discussion. Topics include genre, recurring stylistic features, gender representation, international reception, and the cultural and industrial factors affecting whether films address domestic or global audiences.

What you'll learn

• Assess a range of significant Iranian films and filmmakers
• Place Iranian cinema within relevant historical, social and cultural contexts
• Identify recurring themes and stylistic features across Iranian films
• Evaluate Iranian cinema using different critical frameworks and perspectives

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners at all levels, including those without particular subject-specific skills. It suits participants with an interest in Iranian cinema and Iranian history, and involves discussion of films, cultural contexts and critical ideas.

• No particular skills are required
• Suitable for learners interested in both cinema and Iranian history

Before you go

• Film extracts are shown during the course, so learners do not need to obtain the films.
• Reading materials are provided.