Tara Touzie: Following in the Footsteps of Shohreh Aghdashloo

In 2000, Aghdashloo made a triumphant return to the silver screen with the movie “Raz Behesht.” This film, written and directed by Kamshad Koshan, marked the first Iranian film in English to be publicly shown in American cinemas. “Raz Behesht” garnered international recognition and was invited to esteemed film festivals such as the Cairo International Film Festival, where it competed among other distinguished films like “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Enclosed” by Bernardo Bertolucci.

Although Aghdashloo received invitations to perform at the court and had the opportunity to meet Mohammad Reza Shah and Farah Diba at the Niavaran Palace, she felt disconnected from the Shah’s popularity. She attributed this detachment to her education in Switzerland, which differed from the experiences of Iranian institutions like Dar al-Funun. Following an Oscar nomination, Aghdashloo decided to document her life experiences in an autobiography and memoir, which were published in 2013 in English under the titles “Love Alley” and “Yellow Jasmines.”

May 22, 2023 | 9:29 am