Santouri (film)
Encyclopedia
Santouri is a 2007 Iran
ian drama film
directed
by Dariush Mehrjui dealing with the life of a santour player named Ali Bolourchi. The film's title, "Santouri" refers to one who can play the santour instrument. It is noteworthy that, in Persian "playing the Santour" is also the euphemism for injecting heroin into one's veins; thrashing, for instance, one's arm for causing the main artery of the arm to swell, in preparation for the injection, is reminiscent of playing the santour.
The film has only been screened once in Iran and it has had limited release screenings in North America as well as some showings at various film festivals.
) narrates his life after his wife Hanieh (Golshifteh Farahani
) left him. Ali now makes a living playing music with his band at weddings and house parties where he is often given drugs instead of money to support his heroin addiction
. At one of the weddings in which Ali is playing, a mob opposed to the wedding storm the party, beat the guests, destroy the band's instruments and break Ali's arm. The story then flashes back to happier times when Ali and his wife Hanieh are coming up with the lyrics of the song which Ali was singing at the wedding. The film then shows a house party where Ali is performing and his drug use with his friend and band-mate Tamayol (Mahyar Pourhessabi) are highlighted. At the same party Hanieh meets a musician named Javid (Siamak Khahani) who invites Hanieh to join a musical group that plays for charities and goodwill events. The film then shows the downfall of Ali and Hanieh's marriage caused by Ali's increasing drug use as well as his hate for Javid. Ali beats Hanieh and she goes to her mother's (Maedeh Tahmasebi) house. Hanieh later explains to Javid that Ali's tapes and concerts were banned by the government forcing him to play at house parties and weddings to make ends meet, but for payment he was often given drugs and booze instead of money leading to his addiction. Again the film flashes back to happier times, showing how Hanieh and Ali met, their courtship, wedding and the beginnings of their married life.
The night after Ali's arm is broken he goes to his parent's home where he interrupts a large prayer session, begging for money and shouting as a result of not getting his fix. His mother (Roya Teymourian
) calls Ali's brother Hamed (Nader Soleymani) to calm him down. Ali then is visited by his father, Haj Mohsen Bolourchi (Masoud Rayegan
), a wealthy and conservative member of the bazaar who is shocked to see Ali is now injecting heroin. Ali's parents had disowned Ali after he refused to stop playing music. Ali continues to use what little money he has left on his drug habit and is eventually kicked out of his apartment when the owner decides to demolish the building. Ali ends up living in the street and parks with other drug addicts. His wife Hanieh, who has now divorced Ali and is going to move to Canada
with her new husband Javid accidentally sees Ali one day. She calls his father who has people find Ali and take him to drug rehabilitation center. There Ali slowly loses his addiction but begs the rehab center's doctor not to let him leave as he is afraid he will go back to his addiction again. The film finally ends with scenes of Ali teaching the rest of the drug rehab patients music lessons and performing a concert
.
. For the singing scenes, Ardavan Kamkar
played the santur
while Mohsen Chavoshi provided the vocals. Radan lip synched the song and moved the santur mallets in the correct manner but wasn't actually playing.
. Mohsen Chavoshi's
voice was used as Ali Santoori's in the film,too.and Ardavan Kamkar
played this music. In October 2011, the film's album was officially released.and
. A couple of scenes were cut out as the festival was held during the month of Muharram
. The film was supposed to be released publicly in Iran on July 25, 2007 but for unknown reasons this did not happen. The film was then set for release on the 13th of October, 2007 which coincided with Eid ul-Fitr
, but again the film was not released. At first the film was not released because for the singing segments of the film, the voice of Mohsen Chavoshi was used, who at the time did not have a permit for public performances from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
in Iran. To solve this problem the editors used Bahram Radan's voice and altered it digitally to make it sound similar to Chavoshi's. Even after this the film was not released. The head of the Ministry of Culture, Hossein Saffar Harandi was personally against the screening of the film and said that he would not allow it to be shown while he was in charge of the ministry, even though the film had all the necessary requirements and had been screened once before in Iran.
The film was then shown at a number of film festivals in South Korea
, Japan
and the Czech Republic
. On January 25, 2008 the film was released in Canada and the United States. Soon after high quality DVD
and VCD
copies of the movie became available in Iran, meaning the chances of Santouri ever being shown nationwide on cinema screens in Iran are very low now.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Dariush Mehrjui dealing with the life of a santour player named Ali Bolourchi. The film's title, "Santouri" refers to one who can play the santour instrument. It is noteworthy that, in Persian "playing the Santour" is also the euphemism for injecting heroin into one's veins; thrashing, for instance, one's arm for causing the main artery of the arm to swell, in preparation for the injection, is reminiscent of playing the santour.
The film has only been screened once in Iran and it has had limited release screenings in North America as well as some showings at various film festivals.
Plot
The film begins near the end of the film's timeline. Ali Bolourchi, a santour player (Bahram RadanBahram Radan
Bahram Radan is an award-winning Iranian actor.He was born on April 28, 1979 in Tehran, Iran. After attending Farhangian School for his primary education, Hejrat Middle School, and Borhan & Matin High Schools, he started studying Business Management. While attending the university, Radan signed...
) narrates his life after his wife Hanieh (Golshifteh Farahani
Golshifteh Farahani
Golshifteh Farahani is a Crystal-Simorgh winning Iranian actress and pianist.- Early life :Golshifteh Farahani was born on 10 July 1983 in Tehran, the daughter of actor/theater director Behzad Farahani and his spouse, Fahime Rahiminia and sister of actress Shaghayegh Farahani. She started studying...
) left him. Ali now makes a living playing music with his band at weddings and house parties where he is often given drugs instead of money to support his heroin addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
. At one of the weddings in which Ali is playing, a mob opposed to the wedding storm the party, beat the guests, destroy the band's instruments and break Ali's arm. The story then flashes back to happier times when Ali and his wife Hanieh are coming up with the lyrics of the song which Ali was singing at the wedding. The film then shows a house party where Ali is performing and his drug use with his friend and band-mate Tamayol (Mahyar Pourhessabi) are highlighted. At the same party Hanieh meets a musician named Javid (Siamak Khahani) who invites Hanieh to join a musical group that plays for charities and goodwill events. The film then shows the downfall of Ali and Hanieh's marriage caused by Ali's increasing drug use as well as his hate for Javid. Ali beats Hanieh and she goes to her mother's (Maedeh Tahmasebi) house. Hanieh later explains to Javid that Ali's tapes and concerts were banned by the government forcing him to play at house parties and weddings to make ends meet, but for payment he was often given drugs and booze instead of money leading to his addiction. Again the film flashes back to happier times, showing how Hanieh and Ali met, their courtship, wedding and the beginnings of their married life.
The night after Ali's arm is broken he goes to his parent's home where he interrupts a large prayer session, begging for money and shouting as a result of not getting his fix. His mother (Roya Teymourian
Roya Teymourian
-Selected filmography:* Zendan-e Zanan* Gharch-e Sammi* Beed-e Majnoon * Kafe Setereh-TV Series:* Shab-e Dahom * Madare sefr darajeh * Saate Sheni...
) calls Ali's brother Hamed (Nader Soleymani) to calm him down. Ali then is visited by his father, Haj Mohsen Bolourchi (Masoud Rayegan
Masoud Rayegan
Masoud Rayegan is an Iranian actor and writer. He was nominated for the Crystal Simorgh Best Actor award at the 23rd Fajr International Film Festival for his performance in the film So Close, So Far.-Filmography:*So Close, So Far*Santuri*Makhmaseh...
), a wealthy and conservative member of the bazaar who is shocked to see Ali is now injecting heroin. Ali's parents had disowned Ali after he refused to stop playing music. Ali continues to use what little money he has left on his drug habit and is eventually kicked out of his apartment when the owner decides to demolish the building. Ali ends up living in the street and parks with other drug addicts. His wife Hanieh, who has now divorced Ali and is going to move to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with her new husband Javid accidentally sees Ali one day. She calls his father who has people find Ali and take him to drug rehabilitation center. There Ali slowly loses his addiction but begs the rehab center's doctor not to let him leave as he is afraid he will go back to his addiction again. The film finally ends with scenes of Ali teaching the rest of the drug rehab patients music lessons and performing a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
.
Cast
- Bahram RadanBahram RadanBahram Radan is an award-winning Iranian actor.He was born on April 28, 1979 in Tehran, Iran. After attending Farhangian School for his primary education, Hejrat Middle School, and Borhan & Matin High Schools, he started studying Business Management. While attending the university, Radan signed...
as Ali Bolourchi. Ali Bolourchi is a young santur player and singer who is addicted to drugs. He is from a wealthy and conservative family who have disowned him for his refusal to give up playing the santur. He is married to Hanieh. - Golshifteh FarahaniGolshifteh FarahaniGolshifteh Farahani is a Crystal-Simorgh winning Iranian actress and pianist.- Early life :Golshifteh Farahani was born on 10 July 1983 in Tehran, the daughter of actor/theater director Behzad Farahani and his spouse, Fahime Rahiminia and sister of actress Shaghayegh Farahani. She started studying...
as Hanieh. Ali Bolourchi's wife . She is also a skilled pianist. - Masoud RayeganMasoud RayeganMasoud Rayegan is an Iranian actor and writer. He was nominated for the Crystal Simorgh Best Actor award at the 23rd Fajr International Film Festival for his performance in the film So Close, So Far.-Filmography:*So Close, So Far*Santuri*Makhmaseh...
as Haj Moshen Bolourchi. Ali Bolourchi's father . He is head of the "Crystal Producers Union of Iran" and is extremely wealthy. - Roya TeymourianRoya Teymourian-Selected filmography:* Zendan-e Zanan* Gharch-e Sammi* Beed-e Majnoon * Kafe Setereh-TV Series:* Shab-e Dahom * Madare sefr darajeh * Saate Sheni...
as Ali's mother. Ali Bolourchi's mother . She is a religious woman who was very much opposed to her son's lifestyle and choices. - Nader SoleimaniNader Soleimani- Filmography:*Baghe Mozaffar *Payamak az diar-e baghi* Marde Hezar Chehreh -See also:* Mehran Modiri* Siamak Ansari* Saed Hedayati* Nasrollah Radesh* Saeid Pirdoost- External links :...
as Hamed Bolourchi. Ali's older brother who is very bitter towards his parents for controlling his life. - Siamak Khahani as Javid. A talented violinist who befriends Hanieh and eventually marries her moving with her to Canada.
- Mahyar Pourhessabi as Tamayol. The drummer in Ali's band one of his drug suppliers.
- Maedeh Tahmasebi as Hanieh's mother. She is Hanieh's mother and like her daughter, also a skilled pianist.
Production
The film was originally entitled Ali Santouri but was changed soon after. Production began in 2006 and ended the same year spanning seventy days. All of the filming took place in and around TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. For the singing scenes, Ardavan Kamkar
Ardavan Kamkar
Ardavan Kamkar is a Iranian-Kurdish musician from Iran. He is a part of the Kamkaran ensemble.-Biography:Ardavan Kamkar was born in 1968 in Sanandaj, Iran. He began learning to play the Santur from his father, Master Hassan Kamkar at age 4...
played the santur
Santur
The santur is a Persian hammered dulcimerIt is a trapezoid-shaped box often made of walnut or different exotic woods. The Persian classical santur has 72 strings. The name santur was first referenced in ancient Persian poetry...
while Mohsen Chavoshi provided the vocals. Radan lip synched the song and moved the santur mallets in the correct manner but wasn't actually playing.
Music
The music for the film was composed by mohsen chavoshiMohsen Chavoshi
Mohsen Chavoshi Hosseini is an Iranian musician, singer and songwriter. He lives in Tehran.He has 72 tracks including 7 albums and single tracks...
. Mohsen Chavoshi's
Mohsen Chavoshi
Mohsen Chavoshi Hosseini is an Iranian musician, singer and songwriter. He lives in Tehran.He has 72 tracks including 7 albums and single tracks...
voice was used as Ali Santoori's in the film,too.and Ardavan Kamkar
Ardavan Kamkar
Ardavan Kamkar is a Iranian-Kurdish musician from Iran. He is a part of the Kamkaran ensemble.-Biography:Ardavan Kamkar was born in 1968 in Sanandaj, Iran. He began learning to play the Santur from his father, Master Hassan Kamkar at age 4...
played this music. In October 2011, the film's album was officially released.and
Release
The film was first screened for critics and guests in February 2007 at the Fajr Film Festival25th Fajr International Film Festival
The 25th International Fajr Film Festival was held from 1–11 February 2007 in Tehran, Iran as part of the annual International Fajr Film Festivals.-National:*Crystal Simorgh Prize for Best Film: The Third Day produced by Alireza Jalali...
. A couple of scenes were cut out as the festival was held during the month of Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
. The film was supposed to be released publicly in Iran on July 25, 2007 but for unknown reasons this did not happen. The film was then set for release on the 13th of October, 2007 which coincided with Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
, but again the film was not released. At first the film was not released because for the singing segments of the film, the voice of Mohsen Chavoshi was used, who at the time did not have a permit for public performances from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance is the ministry of Culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is responsible for restricting access to any media of which the Islamic Regime in Tehran does not approve....
in Iran. To solve this problem the editors used Bahram Radan's voice and altered it digitally to make it sound similar to Chavoshi's. Even after this the film was not released. The head of the Ministry of Culture, Hossein Saffar Harandi was personally against the screening of the film and said that he would not allow it to be shown while he was in charge of the ministry, even though the film had all the necessary requirements and had been screened once before in Iran.
The film was then shown at a number of film festivals in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. On January 25, 2008 the film was released in Canada and the United States. Soon after high quality DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
copies of the movie became available in Iran, meaning the chances of Santouri ever being shown nationwide on cinema screens in Iran are very low now.
Awards
Fajr Film Festival:25th Fajr International Film Festival
The 25th International Fajr Film Festival was held from 1–11 February 2007 in Tehran, Iran as part of the annual International Fajr Film Festivals.-National:*Crystal Simorgh Prize for Best Film: The Third Day produced by Alireza Jalali...
- Won: Crystal Simorgh Audience Award
- Won: Best Actor in a Leading Role ( Bahram RadanBahram RadanBahram Radan is an award-winning Iranian actor.He was born on April 28, 1979 in Tehran, Iran. After attending Farhangian School for his primary education, Hejrat Middle School, and Borhan & Matin High Schools, he started studying Business Management. While attending the university, Radan signed...
)
See also
- Candle in the Wind (2003) by Pouran DerakhshandehPouran DerakhshandehPourān Derakh'shandeh is an Iranian film director, producer, screen writer, and researcher.Pourān Derakh'shandeh graduated in film directing in 1975 from Advanced School of Television and Cinema in Tehran...
— http://www.derakhshandeh.ir/EN/Credits/Feature/Candle_InTheWind.htm