The greatness of a nation is not measured by geography, but by culture

At the opening of the Iranian Film Festival, in addition to cinematography, contemporary Iranian poetry was also presented

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From the projection, Photo: KIC Budo Tomović
From the projection, Photo: KIC Budo Tomović
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

The beauty of Iranian culture, the opulent spectrum of all arts, the rich cultural heritage that laid the foundations of world civilization, authentic contemporary artistic expressions, but also the natural resources that intoxicate the eyes, along with the display of a warm and joyful mentality, were intertwined on the first evening of the Iranian Film Festival, which is in Tuesday evening open in Podgorica.

Although the focus was on cinematography, it was also an opportunity to present to a large audience in the hall of the Dodest Cultural and Information Center (KIC) "Budo Tomović" contemporary Iranian poetry collected in the anthology of contemporary Persian poetry "Blistavi zvuci jutra", created after the Islamic revolutions.

Cradle of culture and civilization

"Iran has been the cradle of culture, art and civilization for thousands of years... From the ancient past to modern times in Iran we have always had a large number of artists in various artistic disciplines and directions. Many artists from Iran have become famous in the country and the world, but I think that today Iranian cinematography stands out the most. "Poetry occupies a high place in our culture, and theater art is also developed in Iran," the culture attaché of the Embassy and the director of the Cultural Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Belgrade told "Vijesti" Amir Purpezešk.

Janačković and Purpezešk
Janačković and Purpezešk photo: Jelena Kontić

At the beginning of the evening, IR Iran's promotional tourist spot was shown, which was a real prelude to the film "Sugar Cube" directed by Reze Mirkarimi, but also for a short conversation about the culture and poetry of Iran that followed the screening. The event was opened by the acting director of KiC Elida Korac.

"The Iranian Film Festival is being held at a time when the film industry in the Islamic Republic of Iran is recording top development and enviable progress. Without any doubt, this success is mostly to be found in the rich content and power of Iranian cinema, content that encompasses the inner and spiritual labyrinths of the human being. In Iranian culture, as well as in cinematography, man represents the crown of all creation in the world of existence, and precisely because of this, the desire to search for truth and perfection is imprinted in his depth," said Korać.

Korac
Koracphoto: KIC Budo Tomović

Purpezešk expressed great gratitude to both KIC and her for the opportunity to present artistic content to the Montenegrin audience after several years, because those present in Dodest were from different cities, some of them specifically for this occasion.

"We are extremely glad that after several years we found ourselves again in your country, which is a treasure of culture and history. We wanted to take advantage of this opportunity by simultaneously presenting contemporary Iranian film and contemporary Iranian poetry, but also to emphasize the intimate connection that exists between poetry and cinematography," he said.

Iranian Film Festival
photo: KIC Budo Tomović

Purpezešk told "Vijesta" that Montenegro inherits a unique culture, and that in exchange with representatives of Iran, both can grow and develop in different directions.

"The size of a nation should not be measured by the size of the country's geographical distribution, but by how much importance it attaches to culture and how much it is interested in culture. Although it is the cradle of culture and art, the Iranian culture is not a type of culture that ignores others, but one that wants to get to know other cultures, but also to give others the opportunity to get to know it, which is the case even now in Podgorica. On the other hand, some people who talk so much about multiculturalism would hardly allow us, or not at all, to present our culture at their place or hold a festival, promotion, etc., due to political reasons," stated the cultural attaché.

Purpezešk gave the visitors a copy of the collection at the end of the evening
Purpezešk gave the visitors a copy of the collection at the end of the eveningphoto: Jelena Kontić

He also pointed out that there is evidently a great interest in making contact between artists from Iran and those from the Balkans, which as the director of the Iranian Cultural Center he is trying to enable, but also to enhance the cooperation that has already been achieved. He also reminded of the famous verse of the great Persian poet from the Middle Ages Sadija Shirazi, in which he said that all men are part of one body.

Contrasts that warn

The authenticity of traditions and customs, melancholy for past times, but also the aspiration for a better life, as well as the connection with modern development are shown in the film "Sugar Cube", which from the very beginning drew the viewers, not into the plot, but into the life and family that shows.

The connection between culture, mentality, space, but also customs and traditions, and the aspiration for a more modern life, which at the same time arouses a certain apprehension, is depicted through the character of young Pasandida, the youngest daughter/sister in a large family. The old house where its members gather shows the unique architecture of Iran, and Pasandida's potential wedding ceremony that gathers the family shows the customs, traditions, and mentality of Iranians. In the eyes of the bride-to-be, insecurity, longing and anticipation are reflected, and one can sense that she may not want her own wedding, which means leaving her family, home, city, leaving Iran.

While everything is bursting with energy and preparations for the ceremony, viewers have the opportunity to see a real dreamy day, full of warm colors, smiles, humorous features of different personalities and family life in which pleasure, love and freedom are found. Žagor, the roars and smiles of children, the play of innocence, women's whispers and men's stories, all in their "camps" bring spheres of local life, and numerous topics are opened, ranging from customs, beliefs, through love, joy, the warmth of home, and so on patriarchal society, education, even politics...

Iranian Film Festival
photo: KIC Budo Tomović

They say that folk culture and tradition are best understood through the customs of weddings and funerals... Thus, the film "Sugar Cube" brings a twist in the plot and from the preparations for the wedding, due to the sudden death of Pasandida's uncle in whom she had a father figure, preparations for the funeral begin . Sadness replaced the joy that filled the house and brought a completely different taste to the gastronomic specialties that were prepared with a different purpose. The sugar cube, first sweet and juicy, slowly melts, disappears and suddenly becomes bitter and painful. The young Pasandide now appears in new clothes, in black, and the feast for the wedding party no longer has the glow of great solemnity, but emptiness.

Although the film may be only one day in the life of an ordinary person and an ordinary family, it offers the viewer much more, holds attention and arouses the need for "more" and "more".

In the contrast of events and happenings, there remains a reminder that life is short, it does not leave the option of return or extended duration, it is one, without time and space to live according to the rules of others, and in addition, it awakens the desire to explore Iran with all its luxuries more deeply meet...

Janačković and Korać
Janačković and Koraćphoto: Jelena Kontić

Poetry that relies on domestic identity, which is not alienated

A long and loud applause rang out from the Dodest hall, and the culture attache Purpezešk did not hide his delight at the number and reactions of those present. This was followed by the presentation of the collection of contemporary Iranian poetry "Blistavi zvuci jutra", and everyone in the audience received a copy of the book.

"Modern Persian poetry is here, but also in the world, it is still in the shadow of the great artists from the classical period. Although this year marks its 100th anniversary But Esfandiari, better known as Nima Jusic published his poem 'Afsane', which means 'Legend', as a kind of manifesto of a new type of Persian poetry and thereby made a leap from the stereotypical classical poetry of 'nightingale and flower', i.e. 'goal o bolbol', it seems that the greats of modern Persian poetry like the aforementioned Nima , Ahmad Shamlu, Foruk Farohzad, Sohrab Sepehri, Shahriar and other greats still need a special presentation. All the more significant is this modest attempt of ours to, as far as possible, present to our readers a number of contemporary poets who use new concepts, in new circumstances, with a new sentiment, but also aware of their great heritage, create their works in a language with one of the richest poetic tradition in the world", said the translator Petar Janackovic who is with Aleksandar Dragović translated selected poems.

Iranian Film Festival, Shining Sounds of the Morning
photo: Private archive

The collection includes one work each by 61 contemporary Iranian authors, with information on the poetic style, the poets themselves, but also one copy each in Persian and our language.

"'Blistavi zvuci jutra' is the first anthology of contemporary Persian poetry in the Serbian language. This edition, which compares with the Persian text, through the works of about sixty poets gives us an insight into the contemporary movements in Persian poetry and the period that is considered one of the most turbulent in the entire history of Iran, which began with the triumph of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and continues to this day. It includes representatives of the new wave or modernists who write in free verse, as well as traditionalists who stick to classical poetic forms, but also those who, by their instinct, strongly perceive the world of nature and write about it. There are also supporters of resistance poetry who grew up under the Iraqi bombs or on the front whose poems have overtones of revolutionary, social and religious themes, advocates of social themes for whom the pen is a tool for creating a better world, and those for whom the same pen is a means of reaching divine proximity, the modernists with philosophical aspirations and those who move between free verse and classical forms, but also those who believe that the function of poetry is to fulfill the social and even political needs of man", wrote jd Dragović.

Janačković, presenting the collection, said that numerous contemporary pjdsniks sang the sufferings of their people in their works.

"The entire twentieth century was a time of great changes in Iran, among these changes one of the biggest happened in 1979 when the Islamic revolution won and Iran became a republic for the first time in its history. Soon after, Iran had a terrible war with Iraq, which in Iran is rightly called an imposed war, and also a 'Sacred Defense'. A lot of suffering and suffering from that long war found its expression in the verses of many Iranian poets", he said and listed some of them.

In the preface to the collection, Amir Purpezešk noted that today's Persian poetry in Iran springs from the heart of the people and keeps pace with it.

"Its main part is poetry that relies on the original, domestic identity, which is neither alienated nor limited to self-sufficiency. Thanks to this peculiarity, today's Persian poetry follows the development path traced during previous glorious periods", said Purpezešk, who continued an unofficial conversation about Iranian culture with those interested after the end of the official part of the evening.

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