Writing on the City

In the turmoil following the Iranian revolution that changed not only the political history of Iran but also of the world, pictures of Khomeini and Shariati were everywhere around Tehran. The manifold diversity of slogans added new colours to the city. Then the Iran-Iraq war broke out. Images of martyrs, military leaders and death-defying heroes were now the main subjects. The walls of the city became the social and political thermometre of Iranian society. A new space for public expression was born. Thus, the film conveys the story of the thirty years that extend from the inception of the Islamic revolution to the re-election of Mahmud Ahmadinejad in 2009. Unfortunately, right after the completion of the film, director Keywan Karimi had to face charges of insulting the government and Islam, resulting in a conviction of six years inprison and 223 lashes. After many appeals and pleas, the prison years were reduced to one but the lashes were not remitted. Writing on the City is one the best Iranian documentaries of recent years. The fight for Keywan Karimi goes on.

Giona A. Nazzaro

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