About us   Get involved   Subscribe   Latest print issue

Rock and roll is about sticking it to the man …

Seth Stauffer reviews No One Knows About Persian Cats

Lauded at Cannes and other film festivals, No One Knows About Persian Cats by director Bahman Ghobadi (also director of A Time for Drunken Horses) has literally struck chords around the world. Despite being originally released in May of 2009, perhaps in time for Iran's national elections, the film is only now making rounds in Britain. On 31 March the movie played at the Cine Lumiere with a question and answer session as well as music by the film's stars, Ashkan Koshenejad and Negar Shaghaghi.

The story is set in Tehran, and focuses on Ashkan and Negar attempts to form a band to play a concert in London as well as acquiring fake travel documents to make the journey. Each play themselves in a story less about two young musicians than about censorship and frustration in modern Iran. 'You can't make music here or say what you want,' says Negar in the film. While there is no explicit political criticism, or discussion of religion, there is an abundance of music and resistance throughout the film.

Shot in 17 days, the movie is a brilliant exhibition of Iran's underground music scene. Since most of the story involves waiting for illegal travel documents and finding band members, we are treated to a generous display of bands and musical talent from a wide variety of genres. Heavy metal, hip-hop, indie rock, the blues vie for space throughout.

The film is perhaps best described as creative non-fiction and was made without professional actors, and 'people chose to be a part of the movie despite the risk,' says Negar, because they were frustrated. Ashkan said he 'wanted to show the world what was happening in Iran.'

In the decidedly less serious Hollywood film School of Rock, one character, Dewey Finn, says 'Dude, I service society by rocking, OK? I'm out there on the front lines liberating people with my music.' Had he lived in Iran, that could well have been rather closer to the truth.

No One Knows About Persian Cats is at the Cine Lumiere 9-15 April 2010 and at selected other cinemas around the country.

share


leave a comment

April 2010


latest from red pepper


Cycle city Kathmandu Jennie O’Hara meets Nepali campaigners seeking to tackle pollution and inequality by transforming their capital into a cycle-friendly city

An ‘excess of democracy’: what two generations of radicals can learn from each other The philosophy and experience of 1960s/70s radical movements are in several ways complementary to the ideas of the direct action movements of today. Hilary Wainwright examines the possibility of forging a new kind of political economy by learning from the best of both

N30 and after: was that it? A debate on the public sector strikes Gregor Gall analyses the 30 November strikes. With a response by Heather Wakefield

Audio: Rebellious Media Conference Exclusive podcast with Dan Hind, James Curran, Zahera Harb

Leanne Wood: Why I’m standing for the Plaid Cymru leadership Leanne Wood AM sets out a socialist vision for Wales.




Red Pepper is a magazine of political rebellion and dissent, influenced by socialism, feminism and green politics. more »


Get a free sample copy of Red Pepper

ads


The UK's leading supplier of Fair Trade products


get updates

Get our email newsletter, with news, offers, updates and competitions.
help red pepper

Become a Friend of Red Pepper
Help keep Red Pepper afloat with a regular donation

Watch films online
See free trailers and support Red Pepper by streaming the full films:
Cocaine Unwrapped
The War You Don't See