Bahram Beizai

The greatest Iranian filmmaker no one’s ever heard of, probably because he doesn’t conform to western notions of what Iranian films should be: no “contemplative” long takes, no self-reflexivity, no kids with lost shoes or homework. His films, many of which are banned in Iran, are frustratingly hard to dig up, and of those that can be found the conditions of the prints usually poor. UNCLE MOUSTACHE is a kids’ short made for the same institute Kiarostami used to work for; it was his first film and I imagine he made it strictly for the learning experience. The only one of his features I consider a failure is...