Course—Iranian Cinema

Salam,

I have enrolled on this film studies course run by City Lit on Tuesday evenings from 6th January to 10th February 2026 in Covent Garden at a cost of £149. Come and join me! It would be the beginning of building a Persian community in London.

https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/iranian-cinema

It explores an overview of the specific historical, cultural, artistic, and industrial currents which shaped the history of Iranian cinema. We will examine the development of a film industry in Iran, before looking more closely at the emergence of specific genres in Iranian cinema in the 1960s. We will see how major historical events, such as the totalitarian regime of the Shah, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) left an indelible mark on Iranian society which was reflected through Iranian films in various ways. We shall also consider the different cinematic ‘new waves’ which emerged out of Iran, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and in the 1990s, and attempt to analyse and theorise what it was about their style and themes which made them so remarkable. We will also examine theoretical frameworks to study why it is that some Iranian films can travel abroad and connect with international audiences, while others remain for domestic audiences. Furthermore, other issues such as the representation of gender (of masculinity in 1960s genre films, or of female protagonists in the ‘New Iranian Cinema’ of the 1990s/2000s) will also be considered, both in terms of the specific Iranian context and wider gender theories.

### What will we cover?

• An historical overview of the origins of cinema and a film industry in Iran
• The context of cinema under the Shah’s regime and the emergence of an Iranian New Wave in the 1960s and 1970s
• The impact of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War on cinema and the film industry
• The ‘New Iranian Cinema’ of the 1990s, its stylistic traits and themes, its cultural roots, as well as some critical perspectives on its international success
• The representation of women characters and their narratives in Iranian cinema
• Transnational Iranian cinema: some Iranian directors like Abbas Kiarostami and Asghar Farhadi have become global filmmakers, but in what ways are their films still Iranian?
• Diasporic Iranian cinema: many films made by Iranian filmmakers or about Iranian society are now being made outside Iran. We shall consider the reasons for this and examine the consequences of such films

### What will I achieve?By the end of this course you should be able to:

• Assess a range of key Iranian films and filmmakers
• Situate a range of Iranian cinema within historical, social and cultural contexts
• Identify and assess recurring themes and stylistic traits of a range of Iranian filmmakers
• Evaluate Iranian cinema from various critical frameworks and perspectives

### What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is suitable for all levels and you do not require any particular skills, just an interest in Iranian cinema and Iranian history.

### How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Short clips from the films will be provided, as well as reading materials. The class will be structured around a combination of PowerPoint presentations, film clips and class discussions.

### Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

The tutor will show extracts from films and you do not have to obtain them.

Join me on:
English reading club: www.meetup.com/persian-culture
Spanish reading club: www.meetup.com/gaia-libros
French reading club: www.meetup.com/gaia-livres
Instagram @persian_culture_