The Contemporary History of Iran - Part 22: “The Growth of Cinema in Pre-Revolutionary Iran”

“The Growth of Cinema in Pre-Revolutionary Iran” - Part 22 of the Roqe Media series, The Contemporary History of Iran. Iranian film has been celebrated internationally for its artistic significance and cultural importance in recent decades. But what do we find if we look at the genesis and growth of modern cinema in Iran back to the mid-20th Century? And more specifically, how can we assess the influence of Western culture and Hollywood films on what developed in Iran in the pre-revolutionary years? Professor and Director of the Film Studies Program at Michigan State University, Dr. Kaveh Askari, author of the new book, “Relaying Cinema in Midcentury Iran: Material Cultures in Transit,” joins Jian Ghomeshi from East Lansing, Michigan, for a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation about how access, technology, and Western influence affected the development of a unique and powerful film culture in 20th Century Iran.