Original name: (Rusari Abi / روسری آبی)
Drama/Romance, 85 min, 1995, Color, Iran
Director: Rakhshan Banietemad
Writer: Rakhshan Banietemad
Producer: Majid Modarresi
Cast: Ezzatollah Entezami, Fatemah Motamed-Aria, Golab Adineh, Afsar Asadi, Jamshid Esmailkhani
Synopsis:
In rural Iran, tomato factory owner Rasul Rahmani (Ezzatollah Entezami) is widowed and still saddened by the loss of his wife. Meanwhile, poor factory worker Nobar (Fatemah Motamed-Aria) works for a low wage while caring for her family. The two strike up a friendship when Rasul learns of Nobar’s struggles, and this closeness eventually becomes a romance. But with differences in class and age worrying his tradition-bound family, Rasul might not be able to pursue his newfound love.
Director’s Bio:
One of today’s most prominent female Iranian directors, Rakhshan Banietemad, Graduated in the field of film directing from The Faculty of Dramatic Arts and joined the Iranian TV in 1973 beginning her career as continuity girl and assistant director. Later on, she made a number of short documentaries and directed her first picture ‘Kharej az Mahdudeh (1986)’. Her next films are ‘Zard-e Ghanari (1988)’, ‘Pul-e Khareji (1989)’, ‘Nargess (1992)’ and ‘Rusari Abi (1995)’. Her film Tales (2014) won best script at the 71st Venice International Film Festival. She was also selected the jury member of Venice FF – Orrizonti section in 2017. With a collection of films that combine absolute honesty with extraordinary subtlety, Banietemad offers an analysis of the current cultural pressures shaping Iranian women’s lives. She is widely recognized among Iranian audiences and critics as one of Iran’s most prominent filmmakers, and has also enjoyed international popularity. She was awarded an honorary degree from SOAS in 2008.
FESTIVALS & AWARDS:
Winner Bronze Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival, 1995
Nominee Golden Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival, 1995
Winner FIPRESCI Prize at Thessaloniki Film Festival – New Horizons Section, 1995
