ISFAHAN An Iranian cinema critic and filmmaker Zaven Qokasian believes that Iran's commercial films are going astray.

"Most of the films made following May 23, 1997 concentrated on the new atmosphere created as a result of President Mohammad Khatami's landslide victory," Qokasian told IRNA.

Addressing the film week celebration of Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance held in Isfahan, he said that once the previous restrictions on filmmaking were lifted, Iran's cinema was dominated by a different atmosphere.

He noted that under the present atmosphere filmmaking was boosted in quantity, while a considerable fall is observed in the quality of the films.

"Many of the films made after May 23, 1997 were considered interesting by the time they were screened, while the repetition of the past events in such films is of no special attraction to the public," he added.

Commenting on the ongoing Cinema Week in Isfahan and the screened films, he said that since only unscreened films could be presented during the present week, "our choice was quite limited."

He recalled that apart from a few good films the remaining were not notable.