Roqe Ep. 459 - The Growth of Cinema in Pahlavi-era Iran - Dr. Kaveh Askari

How did Iran become one of the world's great cinematic cultures? In this special pre-taped edition of Roqe, Jian revisits a fascinating conversation with Dr. Kaveh Askari about the remarkable growth of cinema in Iran during the Pahlavi era - and the complicated relationship between Hollywood, Persian culture and the emerging Iranian film industry. Askari, a film scholar and author of Relaying Cinema in Midcentury Iran: Material Cultures in Transit, takes us back to the Iran of the 1950s, 60s and 70s to explore how foreign films circulated through the country, why Hollywood initially considered Iran an almost invisible market, and how Iranian filmmakers adapted and borrowed from Western movies while developing a distinctly local cinema culture. The conversation explores pirated films and soundtracks, Iran's innovations in dubbing, the growing appetite for Hollywood movies, and the emergence of filmmakers like Masoud Kimiai and Dariush Mehrjui and the Iranian New Wave. It is a fascinating look at a less-explored chapter of Iranian cultural history - and the foundations of a cinematic tradition that would eventually become celebrated around the world. Featured Guest: Dr. Kaveh Askari - film scholar and author of Relaying Cinema in Midcentury Iran: Material Cultures in Transit This interview was originally recorded in March 2023. Roqe returns with its new season on Thursday, September 10th. This episode is brought to you with the support of: Quasar Homes - @quasarhomes Follow Jian on Instagram: @JianGhomeshi