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Hafez (2007)
Directed by:
Abolfazl Jalili
Date of birth:
1957, Saveh, Iran
Writing credits:
Abolfazl Jalili
Music by:
Yungchen Lhamo, Abolfazl Jalili
Country:
Iran / Japan
Language:
Farsi
Color:
Color
Runtime:
98 min
Released:
2007
Genre:
Drama / Romance
Synopsis:
Hafez falls in love with his mentor's daughter, Nabat. However, it is a forbidden love, and the two are pulled apart. Will they ever be reunited... The latest film directed by the Iranian genius, Abolfazl Jalili. Iranian version of “Romeo and Juliet”
A religious scholar is accused of a crime of impropriety against one of his students in this independent drama. Shams al-Din (Mehdi Moradi) is an Iranian scholar who has gained the nickname "Hafez" (from a celebrated Persian poet) for his deep knowledge of the Koran. Shams is hired to tutor Nabat (Kumiko Aso), a young woman from Japan, on the holy text as she prepares to marry the son of a local judge. Islamic law prevents Shams from looking at his pupil, but they can speak to one another, and as he guides her through the Koran, he becomes both intrigued and infatuated with her.
One day, Shams can no longer bear his curiosity, and takes a brief look at his student, discovering she's as lovely as he imagined. Shams' timing is unfortunate, and he's seen looking at Nabat; her future father in law is enraged, and insists the teacher be punished as severely as possible. Even through he faces jail time, a public beating and banishment from his home, Shams refuses to apologize for his actions, insisting his love for Nabat is pure and not lustful. Written and directed by Abolfazl Jalili, Hafez was a rare co-production between Japanese and Iranian production companies. (~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)
cast: Mehdi Moradi / Kumiko Aso / Mehdi Negahban / Hamide Hedayati / Abdollah Shamasi
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“Hafez” is a hit at Rome Film Fest
TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (MNA) -- Iranian filmmaker Abolfazl Jalili’s “Hafez” has taken the Special Jury Prize at the Cinema Rome Film Fest.
Jalili is currently in Japan to participate in the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival which ends tomorrow.
He apologizes for being unable to attend the Rome festival’s presentation ceremony which is being held tonight. Co-producer Yuji Sadai will be receiving the prize.
The film is about a talented 17-year-old young man called Hafez, who is assigned by the Grand Mufti to teach his daughter Nabat. He accepts, but he is not allowed to actually see the girl as they are involved in a case of forbidden love.
To all extents and purposes Jalili has been banned from filmmaking because his films have always failed to obtain screening licenses from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
His productions, some of which have only been broadcast on TV or screened at Iranian and international events, enjoy an unconscious simplicity and a clever storytelling style. They mainly center on characters struggling to survive under difficult conditions.