Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari's new film, "Divine Comedy," premieres in Doha with its signature blend of humor and satire, tackling the absurdities of censorship in Iran. In this satirical comedy, director Bahman Ark plays a mid-career filmmaker whose body of work has never been screened in Iran due to his use of Turkish-Azeri language. When his latest film is rejected by cultural authorities for the third time, he joins forces with sharp-witted producer Sadaf (played by Asgari himself) to stage an underground guerrilla screening in Tehran.
Asgari's approach is to utilize satire as a creative strategy and act of resistance against Iran's repressive regime. "You show how silly and stupid the rules are," he says, highlighting the absurdity of censorship. Satire not only allows Asgari to express his views on the system but also helps audiences outside Iran connect with the film.
Shooting without official permits is a calculated risk for Asgari, who has had his passport confiscated multiple times. "Risk is part of making this kind of film," he says, opting for freedom over permission. The experience was intense enough to deter him from applying again, and instead, he continues to work outside the boundaries.
The film "Divine Comedy" premiered in Venice earlier this year and has been well-received at festivals worldwide. Asgari attributes the success to his connection with audiences outside Iran, whom he believes are drawn to the humor and universality of his satirical commentary.
When it comes to the character of Bahram, some scenes were indeed inspired by Asgari's own experiences. "We wrote the film together," he explains, involving fellow writers and actors from different backgrounds to ensure authenticity. The basic idea for the film was born out of screening his previous film, "Terrestrial Verses," secretly in Iran.
The audience reaction at the Doha Film Festival surprised Asgari, with full theaters and enthusiastic questions afterward. He attributes this engagement to the growing cinema culture in Qatar, which has fostered a more engaged audience. The resonance of the film specifically within the region may be attributed to its satirical commentary on censorship and the freedom of expression.
Asgari's journey as an Iranian filmmaker is one of defiance against the rules that govern his work. "You don't make films for one group," he emphasizes, believing in the universal appeal of cinema. With "Divine Comedy," Asgari continues to push boundaries, using satire to highlight the absurdity of censorship and celebrate the beauty of art's ability to transcend borders.
Asgari's approach is to utilize satire as a creative strategy and act of resistance against Iran's repressive regime. "You show how silly and stupid the rules are," he says, highlighting the absurdity of censorship. Satire not only allows Asgari to express his views on the system but also helps audiences outside Iran connect with the film.
Shooting without official permits is a calculated risk for Asgari, who has had his passport confiscated multiple times. "Risk is part of making this kind of film," he says, opting for freedom over permission. The experience was intense enough to deter him from applying again, and instead, he continues to work outside the boundaries.
The film "Divine Comedy" premiered in Venice earlier this year and has been well-received at festivals worldwide. Asgari attributes the success to his connection with audiences outside Iran, whom he believes are drawn to the humor and universality of his satirical commentary.
When it comes to the character of Bahram, some scenes were indeed inspired by Asgari's own experiences. "We wrote the film together," he explains, involving fellow writers and actors from different backgrounds to ensure authenticity. The basic idea for the film was born out of screening his previous film, "Terrestrial Verses," secretly in Iran.
The audience reaction at the Doha Film Festival surprised Asgari, with full theaters and enthusiastic questions afterward. He attributes this engagement to the growing cinema culture in Qatar, which has fostered a more engaged audience. The resonance of the film specifically within the region may be attributed to its satirical commentary on censorship and the freedom of expression.
Asgari's journey as an Iranian filmmaker is one of defiance against the rules that govern his work. "You don't make films for one group," he emphasizes, believing in the universal appeal of cinema. With "Divine Comedy," Asgari continues to push boundaries, using satire to highlight the absurdity of censorship and celebrate the beauty of art's ability to transcend borders.
. By making a film that pokes fun at censorship, he's not only highlighting the absurdity of it all but also showing how silly the system can be when you look at it from a different angle 
. And its awesome that his approach is resonating with audiences outside Iran too - who wouldn't want to watch a comedy that makes them laugh and think about the world around them? 
At the same time, I can understand why shooting without official permits was a calculated risk for him...its not an easy thing to do, especially when you're dealing with a system like Iran's 
.
Ahh, Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari is a real-life superhero! Using satire as an act of resistance against the regime, he's like a satirical ninja 
, slicing through censorship and bringing laughter and freedom to audiences everywhere 
The man is a film-making rebel, and we love it 
!
. i also love how the film has been well-received at festivals worldwide 
, it shows that there are people out there who care about freedom of expression and aren't afraid to stand up for it 
, especially since the film is still getting a lot of attention worldwide 
. Instead of taking a risk that might put him in hot water or worse, he should've tried to find ways to work within the system 
... I mean, who says you can't be funny and clever without breaking the law 
. And what's with this idea that Qatar's cinema culture is more open-minded than Iran's? 
That just seems like a convenient excuse to Asgari. The fact is, he's still managing to get his film shown in some of the biggest festivals out there 
. I'm not buying into this "art should transcend borders" business either 
... sometimes you gotta be willing to take a stand within your own country before you can make a difference globally 
The fact that Asgari's passport got confiscated multiple times and he had to shoot the film in secret sounds like a recipe for disaster...I mean, I get what he's trying to say, but can't we just have open dialogue about these issues instead of resorting to underground screenings? 
The fact that Iranian filmmaker Ali Asgari is taking such a bold risk by shooting without official permits and using satire as a form of resistance against the regime is just so interesting 
. The fact that his film has been well-received at festivals worldwide is no surprise to me – I think audiences appreciate the universality of his satirical commentary 
. It's clear that he values freedom over permission, and it's inspiring to see him continue to work outside the boundaries 
.
. His message of celebrating art's ability to transcend borders resonates deeply with me. It's a reminder that cinema has the power to bring us together and challenge our perspectives in the most delightful way 
.
. But seriously, Asgari's dedication to his craft and his message is inspiring. The fact that he can connect with audiences outside Iran shows there's still hope for art to break down barriers