TEHRAN – The Film Museum of Iran plans to screen two documentaries by renowned Iranian documentarian Kamran Shirdel on Wednesday. 

The documentaries, “The Night It Rained” and “Tehran Is the Capital of Iran”, have been restored by the Film Archive of Iran and will be showcased at the museum. 

Following the screening, a review session will be conducted by Iranian film critic Khosro Dehqan.

Completed in 1967, "The Night It Rained" marked a significant turning point in director Kamran Shirdel's career. However, due to its controversial nature, the film was suppressed by the authorities and remained unseen for seven years.

The documentary endeavors to unravel the truth behind a remarkable act of heroism that took place in the rural region of Gorgan, Iran. During a torrential downpour, a young schoolboy discovered that the heavy rains had eroded the ground beneath a section of railroad tracks, posing a grave danger to an approaching train. In a courageous act, the boy lit his coat on fire, stood on the tracks, and waved it to halt the train, averting a potential disaster.

By incorporating newspaper accounts and interviews with various individuals including railroad employees, the governor, the chief of police, the village teacher, and the local community, Shirdel delves into the enigmatic events surrounding this incident. The film skillfully weaves together contrasting recollections, creating a narrative fraught with contradictions. Questions arise regarding the possibility of setting a coat ablaze in a pouring rainstorm and even the existence of the young hero himself. 

"The Night It Rained" has garnered acclaim at numerous Iranian and international film festivals, receiving recognition for its thought-provoking exploration of truth and memory.

In his documentary "Tehran Is the Capital of Iran," Shirdel delves into the hidden realities of Tehran, shedding light on the stark juxtaposition between the official narrative of a thriving and opulent city under the Shah's regime and the harsh everyday existence of its most marginalized inhabitants.

Challenging the dominant portrayal of Tehran as a prosperous capital, Shirdel delves beneath the surface to reveal the lives of those who reside in the city's underprivileged sectors. Through his lens, he captures the stark contrast between the grandiosity and power projected by the government and the struggles faced by ordinary people on a daily basis.

Shirdel, who is also a photographer and translator, studied architecture and film direction in Rome. He started his career in filmmaking in 1965.

Shirdel is the founder and director of the Kish International Documentary Film Festival and managing director of Filmgrafic Co.

“The Mirrors”, “Women’s Quarter”, “Women’s Prison”, “Paykan”, “Dubai”, “The First Loneliness” and “Boom-e Simin” are among his films. 

Photo: Iranian documentarian Kamran Shirdel in an undated photo

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