Taxi Tehran

Question 1

Who is Taxi Tehran directed by?

Answer 1

The film is directed by Jafar Panahi.

Question 2

Who stars in Taxi Tehran?

Answer 2

The film stars Jafar Panahi, Hana Saeidi and Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Question 3

What is the First New Wave Influenced Cinema 1964 - 1979?

Answer 3

• Filmmakers enthusiastic for New European films.

- The most iconic film is ‘The Cow’ directed by Dariush Mehrjuri, released in 1969.

Question 4

What is the Second Wave Of The New Iranian Cinema 1979 Post Revolution?

Answer 4

• Started the same year as the Iranian Revolution which was also when the Islamic Republic Government rose to power.
• A prominent filmmaker during this period was Abbas Kiarostami.
• Kiarostami made the Koker trilogy, as well as ‘Taste Of Cherry’, which was released in 1997.
• Taste Of Cherry follows a man going on a car journey around Iran before he intends to commit suicide.
• Kiarostami created the Iranian road genre.
• The film’s ending pulls away from the narrative and shows the making of the film, an unusual ending that reminds the audience that they’re watching a film.

Question 5

What is the Third Wave Of Contemporary Films / New New Iranian Cinema?

Answer 5

• Films focus on the flaws of Iran and getting past the restrictions of filming.
• Jafar Panahi is a prominent filmmaker responsible for multiple films opposing the rules set in place, such as ‘Offside’, released in 2007, and ‘This Is Not A Film’, released in 2012.
• Panahi was put under house arrest, jailed for six years, and banned from filmmaking, scriptwriting, interviews and travelling for twenty years due to his films.
• Panahi made This Is Not A Film while under house arrest.
• Panahi’s desire to talk about social injustice in his films has made him a controversial figure.

Question 6

Analyse the introduction scene.

Answer 6

• Features multiple stylistic choices, opening with a durational POV shot from the driver’s perspective.
• The shot shows the streets of Tehran and offers an interesting perspective to challenge the audience’s prejudices.
• Diegetic music also plays throughout the shot, representing Iranian culture.
• The shot is broken by the first passenger, who interacts with the camera by turning it around and revealing it is a secret camera for a documentary.
• Panahi is kept off camera, keeping the focus on the two passengers as they argue.
• The two argue about capital punishment, with the second passenger, a teacher, arguing against it.
• The argument highlights the legal system in Iran, which is further explored in the Flower Lady scene.

Question 7

Analyse the Flower Lady scene.

Answer 7

• Focuses on Jafar, Hana and Nasrin and is a key scene due to how it represents Iran.
• Nasrin carries roses with her, which symbolise love and freedom.
• Nasin’s lighter coloured headscarf presents her as a unique individual who goes against what is expected of her.
• Nasrin and Jafar talk about a woman arrested for trying to watch a live sports game, commenting on the unjust and unfair rules applied to women.
• Nasrin also references Offside, showing Jafar’s influence and impact on Iran.
• Like the first passenger in the opening scene, Nasrin interacts with the camera, acknowledging that he is working on a film.
• Nasrin directly addresses the audience when placing a rose down in front of the camera to show love to them.
• The rose remains visible in the ending scene when the camera returns to the POV shot, sending a message of love.