Bahram Baizai (Director )

He is known as a master of stage and cinema. Of course, he has made few films, which indicate his sensitivity about filmmaking. Baizai started his film career in the late 1960s and during the past four decades has made a number of films every one of which has been a surprise in the Iranian cinema. Baizai is very interested in history and mythology and has been inspired by Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (the greatest epic about mythical Iranian kings). However, his latest two films have been critical of cultural conditions in the Iranian society. Killing Rabids (2000) which not similar to his previous films while When We Are All Sleeping (2009) elicited negative reactions from critics. It is about behind the scenes of the Iranian cinema and role of capital in wasting talents. Like his two previous films, Baizai has cast his wife, Mojdeh Shamsaei, in the leading role. He has responded to some critiques of his film, but even his traditional fans believe that When We Are All Sleeping is poles apart from his memorable films. The latest stage play directed by him was Afra (Maple) in 2007. He is supposed to direct another stage play after screening When We Are All Sleeping is over.