TEHRAN -- Asghar Farhadi’s latest award-winning flick “About Elly” did not appear on silver screens during the Noruz holiday despite previous announcements.

Farhadi won a Silver Bear for best director for the film “About Elly” at the 59th Berlin Film Festival last month.
The Managing Director of Iran’s House of Cinema Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpur in a brief interview with the Persian service of ISNA before the Noruz holiday had asked those involved in not permitting the film for their reasons, and said that the movie had a screening license and there were no obstacles.
“We will be making decisions at the House of Cinema after the holiday about the current condition of Iran’s screening guild council, and the House of Cinema must officially announce the reasons for its decision,” Asgarpur had said.
This is the first time in the past decade that only four films will go on screen during Noruz, while “About Elly” is to be the fifth movie of the holiday with permission granted for its screening, the Iranian Filmmakers Guild director Alireza Raisian also said before the holiday.
“Despite the regulation, ‘About Elly’ was able to draw the attention of the viewers to the cultural issues. I express my deep sorrow and on behalf of the Iranian Filmmakers Guild for not screening the movie, and I hope it won’t face the misfortune several other movies experienced in past years,” Raisian remarked.
This is while Filmiran distributing company director Ali Sartippi stated that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance had announced that the Noruz holiday was not an appropriate time for “About Elly’ because of competition from several other popular movies being shown.
“About Elly” tells the story of middle class Iranians whose trip to the Caspian Sea turns into a tragedy as they try to uphold their social customs.
Shahab Hosseini, Golshifteh Farahani, Taraneh Alidusti, Merila Zarei, and Mani Haqiqi are the stars of the cast.
Photo: From right to left, Mani Haqiqi, Shahab Hosseini, Rana Azadivar, and Merila Zarei in a scene from “About Elly”