| Level | Item |
| Ref No | GUA/9/4/1/4/2/1 |
| Title | Abbas Kiarostami |
| Date | 22 June 1999 |
| Extent | 1 audio cassette tape, 3 WAV files (653.7 MB, 397.7 MB and 208.1 MB) |
| Creator Name | British Film Institute (BFI), 1933- |
| Guardian News & Media Ltd, 1967- |
| Description | Audio recording of an interview with film director and producer Abbas Kiarostami in front of a live audience, presumed to have been undertaken as part of the Guardian sponsored National Film Theatre Guardian interview series.
The recording begins part way through the interview, with an unidentified host putting questions to Kiarostami. Kiarostami gives his answers in another language which is then translated into English by an interpreter. The recording comprises a question and answer session with members of the audience from 13.18 on track 1.
A summary of the topics discussed is included below.
Track 1:
00.00 Casting his films
02:50 The autobiographical nature of his films
04:45 The relationship of cinema to life
08:10 Producing films in an Islamic country
10:12 Discussing political films
13:18 Unwillingness to discuss Mohsen Makhmalbaf
14:19 Discussing darkness in A Taste of Cherry
15:44 The validity of the interpretation of homosexuality in A Taste of Cherry
17:50 Music in films
Track 2:
00:00 Music in films (cont.)
02:07 Audience reception to A Taste of Cherry in the Middle East
04:49 Opinions on religion
05:42 On being a film-maker in Iran
07:22 Making Homework
09:24 Dissatisfaction with Where is the Friend's Home?
11:15 Iranian films and Western audiences
14:40 Kiarostami and repetition
19:40 On leaving his films open-ended
21:51 His influences
23:05 Popularity of his films in the West
25:45 Discussing Majid, one of the boys interviewed in Homework
27:00 Perspective on the Iranian Woman
30:45 Issues with filming Where is the Friend's Home?
34:05 Showing the actors Where is the Friend's Home?
Films mentioned in the course of this interview: A Taste of Cherry; Close-up; The Traveler; Through the Olive Trees; Homework; Where is the Friend's Home?; Life and Nothing More.
Track 1 is a poor quality recording. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | Access to recording via GNM Digital Repository |
| Related Material | Two possible duplicates at the BFI. Details at http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmItems/154381580 and http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmItems/154381581 |
| Format | Electronic record |
| Tape recording |