Borges Film – Ghazal

Ghazal

1975, Iran 100 min.

Crew
Directed by Massoud Kimiai.
Produced by Parviz Sayyad.
Cinematography by Nemat Haqiqi.
Music by Esfandiar Monfareezadeh.

Cast
Mohammad Ali Fardin — Hojjat
Faramarz Gharibian — Zein-Ala’bedin
Pouri Banayi — Ghazal

Synopsis

Two brothers, Hojjat and Zein-Ala’bedin, share a peaceful existence in the remote Iranian woodlands. One day Hojjat brings home Ghazal, a prostitute from a nearby city. As she integrates herself into their domestic life, both brothers find themselves falling in love. They resolve this insufferable love triangle through a ritual of violence and immolation.

Comments

A work belonging to the Iranian “New Wave” of 1970s cinema, Ghazal is an adaptation of Borges’ short story, “The Intruder.”

Many popular films in pre-Revolutionary Iran featured themes of vendetta, often considered to be metaphorical protests against the repressive regime of the Shah. Tales of heroism and revenge were popular, and according to film critic Parviz Jahid, Massoud Kimiai’s films were known for their “combination of heroism and realism, the adding of prostitutes as complementary elements, and violence.” It’s hardly surprising Kimiai turned to Borges’ violent tale of lovestruck brothers.

Additional Information

Ghazal
A low-res upload of the film is available on YouTube, sadly without any English subtitles. The story is still fairly intelligible, and Pouri Banayi’s eyes smolder in any language! [Persian]

IMDB Page
The Internet Movie Database features a profile of Ghazal. 

Wikipedia Page
Wikipedia hosts a brief page on Ghazal.

Author: Allen B. Ruch
Last Modified: 25 August 2024
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