CZECH REPUBLIC: Iranian film in competition in one of Eastern Europe's largest film festival

Record ID: 313614

  • Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: Iranian film in competition in one of Eastern Europe's largest film festival
  • Date: 9th July 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN ACTRESS, LEILA HATAMI, SAYING THROUGH TRANSLATOR: "When I first read the script, I was against it and I had problems with some details in the script. I was asking the director to change them but he was not willing to do so. Anyway, while making the film the co-operation was not very difficult because we have been friends for many years. We co-operated well and I was following his directions, as a good actress. Now I hope it is a good film, even though I haven't seen it yet."
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Czech Republic
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Reuters ID: LVADHU7NK11NY5UKADU6NRNLQU4R
  • Story Text: The 45th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opened its doors to the public in the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary, this year showcasing more than 200 films.
    The film festival, one of the largest and most prestigious in the Central and Eastern European region, featured an Iranian film as one of 12 official selections in the competitions category.
    "There Are Things You Don't Know" is the only film from the Middle East to feature in the festival, which kicked-off on Friday (July 2).
    The film's director, Fardin Saheb Zamani, graduated from Tehran University of Arts and has since made three short films. The drama "There Are Things You Don't Know" is his director-writer debut.
    "This is a film about a taxi driver doing his job and meeting daily with many people from different parts of society, this is the story," said Zamani.
    The film tells the story of a quiet night shift taxi driver who works the streets of the Iranian capital, Tehran, where he meets a wide cross-section of people. His life becomes intertwined with one of his passengers, a lonely woman by the name of Leila. The relationship rakes up parts of his past life, uncovering deeply buried traumas.
    Cast members were also at the festival.
    "When I first read the script, I was against it and I had problems with some details in the script. I was asking the director to change them but he was not willing to do so. Anyway, while making the film the co-operation was not very difficult because we have been friends for many years. We co-operated well and I was following his directions, as a good actress. Now I hope it is a good film, even though I haven't seen it yet," said actress Leila Hatami, who plays the role of Leila.
    Another cast member, Iranian actor Ali Mosafa, who plays the role of the taxi driver, believes the film will be a success.
    "I can't predict the future, but I think this film will be successful. Even the fact that the film was selected for competition in this festival is already a success," he said.
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