Iranian Filmmaker’s Incarceration Draws Endorsement from Scorsese and Coppola

Iranian filmmaker Saeed Roustaee has been sentenced to six months in prison for screening his film “Leila’s Brothers” at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The film had been banned in Iran as it violated regulations by being submitted to international film festivals without proper authorization. Roustaee chose not to make the requested alterations, as instructed by the culture ministry.

Alongside Roustaee, the film’s producer, Javad Noruzbegi, has also received a six-month prison sentence for presenting the film at Cannes. Iranian media has declared Roustaee and Noruzbegi guilty of “promoting opposition propaganda against the Islamic system.” The film, narrating the financial challenges faced by a family in Tehran, competed for the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes festival. Although it did not secure the top prize, it did receive the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award.

Prominent director Martin Scorsese, known for renowned films like “Taxi Driver,” “Goodfellas,” and the upcoming “Killers of the Flower Moon,” has appealed for the release of Saeed Roustaee. Francesca Scorsese, an actor, director, and Martin Scorsese’s daughter, initiated a petition, stating, “We have less than 20 days to gather sufficient attention for an appeal against his sentence.” She encourages supporters to sign, aiming to ensure that Roustaee “can continue being a positive influence in the world.”

In addition to Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the director of “The Godfather” trilogy and “Apocalypse Now,” has also called on his followers to sign the petition. Through his social media accounts, Coppola has shared the petition link alongside a post by Scorsese, shedding light on Roustaee’s unjust imprisonment.

This curtailment of freedom of speech and expression has stifled the voices of those who go unheard. Iranian filmmakers, who receive international acclaim, have long encountered governmental pressures within their homeland. Similarly, actors have faced increased scrutiny, particularly following the tragic passing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Her demise, resulting from detention by the country’s morality police due to improper adherence to mandatory headscarf rules, triggered nationwide protests. The subsequent security force crackdown led to the loss of over 500 lives and the arrest of more than 22,000 individuals.

-Rajak Sharma

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Rajak SharmaContent Writer

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