Anthem Film Review: 3 Persian Films and Halyna Hutchins

This year’s Anthem Film Festival, held July 10-13 at Caesars Forum conference center in Las Vegas, Nevada, opened with the “Best of the Persian Fest,” the top three award winners from the Anthem Persian Film Festival which took place this spring. Anthem Film Festival Director Jo Ann Skousen explained that this spin-off event for Persian films came about because of a special relationship between Anthem and filmmakers in Iran.

“Beginning in 2018, we began receiving films from Iran”, she explained, “but because of the policies of the Iranian government, filmmakers could not send money out of the country to pay entry fees. We decided to make an exception for Iranian filmmakers so that their work could be seen. We became known for that so much that we created a second festival just for Persian films.”

The three films opening Anthem included a father-son relationship story, a documentary, and a deep dive into brotherly love. The late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was also remembered.

Coffee With Baba

When was the last time you called your father? Most people have heard some variation on that question, and it is the premise of Coffee With Baba. A minor car accident results in the father having several hours to kill, so he calls his son and asks him to breakfast.

As they sit in the diner talking, the conversations range from awkward silences to personal feelings to conflicts over politics and how the world should work. The film makes you care about these two men. It won Best Short Narrative at Anthem Persian Film Festival

I’ve never been a big fan of films involving “two people talking,” but I may have been wrong. In exploring the concept, I came across this quote from Taika Watiti, writer/director of Jojo Rabbit: “My world is not spectacle and explosion. It’s two people talking.”  

Coffee With Baba creates a world worth experiencing. You can watch the trailer below.

Bubjan

Winner of the Excellence in Filmmaking Award at the Anthem Persian Film Festival, Bubjan (grandfather) shares the life of Iranian politician Parwiz Zafari. A member of the parliament under the shah, he fought to build a modern society, based on equality and personal freedom.

I recall hearing and reading about the “oppressive Shah of Iran.” He did have a secret police and imprisoned opponents. Zafari was, however, able to work for reform under the shah. When the Islamic Republic came to power in 1979, he had to flee Iran and now lives as part of the Iranian diaspora.

The film tells the story from the viewpoint of Zafari’s son, and from readings from his favorite book. Where no documentary footage existed, the gaps are filled in with animations.

It succeeds as a documentary as it dramatically changed my perspective on events that I experienced through the American media.

Hidden

The most emotionally moving of the three screenings was Hidden, by filmmaker Rayan Farzed, who shared details about the film with the Anthem audience.

The main character, Parham, feels undercut by the presence of his younger step-brother. An unfortunate event occurs involving the siblings and Parham must confront his feelings of guilt and deeper emotions.

Filmed by the late Halyna Hutchins, who was accidentally shot on the set of Rust, the film won Best Cinematography at both Anthem Film Festival and the Anthem Persian Film Festival.

Farzed said, “It was a very personal movie based on my real problems with my brother. Not exactly the same but based on the emotions.”

He also recalled working with Halyna Hutchins. “She was everywhere on the set,” Farzed said. “She was there helping everyone. When I heard what happened, I cried for a week.”

For More Info

Next year, FreedomFest and Anthem move to Palm Springs, California, June 11-14. Check the event websites for more information: FreedomFest and Anthem Film Festival.