He began work on "Siyavosh at Persepolis" with funding from the Telefilm Company of National Iranian Radio & Television.

Shot on location in the ruins of Persepolis, the film is based on Ferdowsi's poetic epic Shahnameh.

It tells the story of Crown Prince Siyâvash who leaves his homeland in order to avoid dishonoring his father Shah Kay Kāvus. He marries the daughter of the local king Afrasiab, but is betrayed and murdered.

The film is notable for its then-uncommon temporal experimentation with footage of tourists trekking through the ruins of Persepolis interspersed with the older setting.

Rahnema graduated from the Institute of Filmography, Sorbonne, France in 1957. His thesis  "The Realism of film" was first published in "film and Life" magazine, and then fully by Owl Publishing in 1972.

In 1959 he begins the production of his only documentary film Persepolis with Assad Behroozan. The film tries to express an anti-war attitude by using the remnants of Persepolis.

Among his other activities is the foundation of "free cinema" and forming the section of "Iran Zamin". Rahnama, died in Tehran in august 1975.

Filmography

Director

1976 Pesar-e Iran az madarash bikhabar ast
1967 Siyavosh at Persepolis
 
Writer

1976 Pesar-e Iran az madarash bikhabar ast
1967 Siyavosh at Persepolis
 
Producer

1976 Pesar-e Iran az madarash bikhabar ast (producer)
1967 Siyavosh at Persepolis (producer)
 
Costume Designer

1976 Pesar-e Iran az madarash bikhabar ast