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Parvis Parastui stars in "The Willow
Tree."
Exclusive interview with Director Majid
Majadi and Co-writer Fouad Nahas.
TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL:
"The Willow Tree" by Majid Majidi
Exclusive interview with Iranian Filmmaker Majid
Majidi and film co-writer Fouad Nahas.
By Corey Boutilier
"The Willow Tree" is one of the best examples of Existentialism
as a
narrative that I have seen. Man by his very nature seeks to BECOME
but is prevented by outside forces beyond his control. This is
story of a
blind man who is presented with an opportunity to regain his sight
after
over 40 years of total blindness.
The Willow Tree recently had its North American Premiere In the
Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2005 Toronto International
Film Festival. Majid Majidi's previous feature "Baran"
won the Grand
Prize at the 2001 Montreal Film Festival, Majidi's third Grand
Prize of
the Americas>
in as many appearances atMontreal.
His other films
include "The Color of Paradise" which triumphed at the
international
box office and became the highest grossing Iranian film in the
United
States, and "Children of
Heaven", the first Iranian film nominated for an
Academy Award in the best foreign-language film category.
There are pleanty of metaphors of light from darkeness in "The
Willow Tree"
but it is the story itself that provides this message of hope.
However, this
hope will last only as long as the complicated operation will
hold. Mr.
Majidi's "The Willow Tree" asks this question. "In
the end, is it sight that
will bring a blind man true happiness?" "The Willow
Tree" is masterfully shot
in
qualities as they are just to watch a blind man "feel"
them. Water,
concrete, pavement, iron bars, air, and dirt. In a climax scene
the lead, played
by Parvis Parastui, even ends up in a water fountain.
I asked Mr. Majid to share his thoughts about his film. Mr. Fouad
Nahas (co-
writer of the film and the actor who plays the Paris Doctor) acted
as translator for this interview.b
Is your film meant to be a philosophical journey of existentialism
or
did I get it wrong? Is it actually about religion and Man’s
personal
relationship with God?
We were very aware of Existentialism when we wrote it. It was
core for
what the film is about. But also, because the philosophy of
linked to the Metaphysical and Spirituality the film has two sides.
Why did you choose
Actually, it was for practicality. It was easier for us to get
visas for all
of our Iranian film crew. At first we thought
people were very helpful. It is easy to work in
What is it like shooting in
It is very easy to work in
cinema. The police will help you on the spot. We had many locations
and shot over 5 months in
mix in
equipment.
Your film has English subtitles and your translation for the
name
of God is, well "God". I was curious about that. I thought
that the
middle-eastern translation was Allah? Did you choose "God"
as the
translation to simplify it for an American audience?
It's a good question. Actually in
Persian in
that. But just as every religion has it's own special name so
too does
every country. Also, one of [Mr. Majidi's] movies in English is
translated to the "Color of Paradise." The Persian name
is actually
"Rang-e Khoda."
The ending. How did you come up with the ending?
We didn't want the end to be dark. We see the blind man having
gone
out of
protecting him was still present even though he is a man who lost
everything. We wanted to have hope at the end of this film. We
didn't
want it to end dark and hopeless.
Is your lead actor Parvis Parastui well know in
Oh, yes. His is one of the most known actors in
discipline and people really love him. Casting for the lead role
was
difficult. At first I thought he would be too old for the role.
The I spoke
with him about it and he read the script and he told me that he
would do
anything to play this role.
He spent 3 months learning to walk and learning the behavior and
gestures. It was very obvious he was the best person for this
role and we
are very happy with the result.