Staying | Mandan
Mani Haghighgi's new documentary released after 30 years

By Mani Haghighi
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“Staying” is not just a documentary, but a documentation of the decision and story of a generation that chose to stay. The combination of Mani Haghighi’s vision, Kaveh Golestan’s frames, and Bahman Kiarostami’s editing definitely made for a special experience. Watching it after 30 years is like opening a window to a lived past. Thank you for sharing this narrative with us. --Mehdi

"..The result was this film, which is being made available to the public for the first time after about 30 years, in memory of Parvaneh Etemadi.." --Mani Haghighi



"The documentary film "Staying" is the first film I made in collaboration with Kaveh Golestan. It was shot a few days after Mohammad Khatami won the presidential election in June 1997.

The film tapes remained untouched in my desk drawer until four years later, when they were edited at the suggestion of Bahman Kiarostami.

I was outside Iran during the missile attack on Tehran, in the final days of the war, and I considered this a great loss in my life experience. I thought I would talk to a number of prominent Iranian painters who had decided to stay in Tehran for that period, so that perhaps through their words I could gain a better understanding of that intense and unique experience.

The result was this film, which is being made available to the public for the first time after about 30 years, in memory of Parvaneh Etemadi." --Mani Haghighi

Director: Mani Haghighi

With the presence of: Parvaneh Etemadi, Farideh Lashai, Shideh Tami, Bahram Dabiri, Gholamhossein Nami, Manouchehr Motabar, Mehdi Sahabi, Samila Amirebrahimi, Nosratollah Moslemian, Behzad Shishegaran, Aydin Aghdashloo, and Hossein Khosrojerdi.

Produced by: Mani Haghighi
Cinematographer: Kaveh Golestan
Edited by: Bahman Kiarostami
44 minutes