TEHRAN -- The long summer vacation with its lengthy warm days is on the way with a large variety of films, promising lucrative sales for Iranian cinema.

Now that the schools are closing in early June in Iran, the cinemas are welcoming the good old days of summer. In recent years, Iranian movies have attracted hundreds of moviegoers in this season making it the best time of the year for film screenings.
Also expected is that the films on the way will again repeat the profitable successes of prior years this time as well.
Asghar Farhadi’s “About Elly” is hoped to be one of the monster hits of the summer screenings in early June. It was first due to be screened during Noruz vacation, but screening was postponed until the decision was finally made for it to be shown at the present time when the country is caught up in preparations for the 10th presidential election.
“About Elly” recently won the top prize at the Tribeca Film Festival which was held in April in Manhattan. It also captured a Silver Bear for director Farhadi at the 59th Berlin film festival in February.
The movie 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.
Farhadi’s other credits include “Fireworks Wednesday,” “Dance in the Mist” and “Beautiful City.”
Mohammad Motavasselani’s “Whatever You Desire” will also hit screens in summer. Written by Khashayar Alvand, the movie is centered on a social comedy. It features the story of a driver whose car is stolen by a young woman.
Ladan Mostofi, Majid Salehi and Hasan Shokuhi star in the film. “The Searcher,” “Mirza Noruz’s Shoes,” and “Two Faces of the Coin” are among Motavasselani’s credits.
“Moon Is Shining Tonight” by Mohammad-Hadi Karimi is on the summer screening movie list. The story is written by Karimi and features the last days of a young singer’s life. The love story has a sad ending. Mahnaz Afshar and Daniel Ebadi star in the movie and singer Ehsan Khajeh-Amiri performs some of the songs in this movie.
Mohammadreza Rahmani’s “Heart-stricken” stars Hamed Behdad and Elnaz Shakerdust. It narrates the story of a man who has killed his wife and is sentenced to death. A young female lawyer changes the life of the man.
“Gamecock,” Masud Atyabi’s second movie, is another comedy for this summer with Reza Attaran and Merila Zarei. The film is about a married couple, who exchanges places in life, creating comical situations. Actor Attaran is a bargaining chip for the movie with his fame in comedy.
“Shadow of Fear,” the debut film by Emad Asadi, is a horror movie, again about a married couple that goes through a terrifying experience.
Shahab Hosseini, Shila Khodadad, and Mah-Chehreh Khalili are among the cast members.
Bahman Farmanara’s “Earthbound” will also go on screen this summer. The movie like Farmanara’s previous film “A Little Kiss” narrates the relationship between old and new generations, between a middle-aged painter and a young man in a distant village. Reza Kianian and Babak Hamidi are among the cast members.
Photo: Reza Kianian (R) and Babak Hamidi in a scene from “Earthbound”, which will have its premiere in summer along with a host of other Iranian films