A Canadian docudrama A poetic, mystical and musical trilogy Exilic trilogy
Tirgan.ca
It’s a trilogy based on facts, documents and subjects that are scripted, staged and dramatized in a genre which stays between reality and illusion, documentary and fiction.
The trilogy is poetic, mystical and musical, colliding with political, social, psychological, and philosophical manifestations about three of the most important Iranian artists who were forced into exile after the Iranian revolution.
The story of a well known musician, a famous painter and a legendary poet are included in Exilic Trilogy in three chapters. This arthouse independent docudrama film is shot in Toronto by Arsalan Baraheni, an exiled Iranian-Canadian filmmaker.
Exilic trilogy is made up of three separate dramatic documentary films, shot by Arsalan Baraheni, the Iranian born Canadian filmmaker in exile. The films are visual, poetic and musical, colliding with social, psychological, political and philosophical manifestations.
It’s a trilogy based on facts, documents and subjects that are scripted, staged and dramatized in a genre which stays between reality and illusion, documentary and fiction.
1-The first film is called “Light and Sound”, starring Soleyman Vaseghi who is known as Soley by all the Iranians. He is a well known Iranian musician and singer. He was forced to leave Iran after the 1979 revolution when music got banned by the regime. He came to Canada and struggled as an immigrant, in poverty, becoming a Taxi driver, while continuing his work as an indie musician, changing his musical style and turning to mystical and traditional music, singing the poems of Rumi and Hafez. The film deals with the mystical light within the mind of the musician and the sound of his music.
2-The second film is called “Frame and Wall”, starring Master Gholamhossein Nami, known as one of the most important Iranian painters and visual artists. The film deals with his mind, his colors, his paintings, his frames and his walls. He is also busy portraying his character in the documentary film that we are watching, gathering a group of Iranian artists in exile in order to help them with exhibiting their gallery in Toronto.
3-The third film is called “Alchemy and Dust”, starring Reza Baraheni, known as one of the greatest Iranian poets and novelists. He has written more than 50 books of poetry, fiction and literary criticism. This poetic docudrama is shot by Baraheni's son, who suffered exile with him and who is now an independent filmmaker in Toronto. The film is about the colliding of a poet and a filmmaker, a father and a son, the poetry and the camera. The film deals with themes such as the life and the death of the author in exile.
***
The award winning Iranian-Canadian filmmaker is based in Toronto and he released his first documentary film on Persian BBC's cinema program. Exilic Trilogy features three of his documentaries which have premiered in festivals, art theaters, universities and various stations. Arsalan is the son of Reza Baraheni who is known as the greatest living Iranian poet.
Arsalan was exiled at the age of 14 because of his father who was an important intellectual who stood against censorship of the writers in Iran and was blacklisted by the Iranian government because of his activities with in relation to human rights, freedom of speech and censorship in Iran.
Arsalan continues his work as an independent filmmaker, writer, cinematographer and editor in Toronto. He is the founder of Minima Films, a Canadian film production company.
Project Type: Documentary, Experimental, Feature Runtime: 1 hour 14 minutes Completion Date: January 3, 2016 Production Budget: 0 USD Country of Origin: Canada Country of Filming: Canada Language: Farsi Film Color: Black & White First-time Filmmaker: No Student Project: No
Screenings / Awards
International Exile Film Festival Gothenberg/Sweden November 7, 2015
Tirgan Festival Toronto/Canada August 22, 2015
Amsterdam Film Festival Documentary directing award
New York city indie film awards United States Best director
Los Angeles Film awards Los Angeles United States Best experimental film
Cult critic movie awards India Best director
Calcutta International film festival India Best documentary
Distribution Information Winnipeg Film Group Canadian filmmakers distribution centre