''Hezardastan'' ( fa, هزاردستان, translit=Hezār Dastān) also known as ''Hezar Dastan'', was an
Iranian
Iranian may refer to:
* Iran, a sovereign state
* Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran
* Iranian lan ...
epic historical drama
A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romance film, romances, adventure f ...
television series from 1987, developed and directed by
Ali Hatami.
Hezar Dastan is considered one of the most important and most influential works of art in the history of
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB; fa, صدا و سيمای جمهوری اسلامی ايران, ''Sedā va Sīmā-ye Jomhūri-ye Eslāmi-ye Īrān'', , formerly called National Iranian Radio and Television until the Iranian Rev ...
. The show's story, characters, acting, style, and music were highly acclaimed by critics and fellow directors of the time, and the influence of the show's themes and story can be seen in Iranian popular culture as well as many works of art coming in later years.
The production of the show took almost 8 years, starting in 1979 and ending in 1987, during which Hatami established a large set to represent Tehran in both
Qajar dynasty and
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, retroactively creating Iran's first movie studio and backlot (named
Ghazali Cinema Town Ghazali is an international surname and given name with different spellings (e.g. Gazali, Gazzali, Gazzaly, Gassaly, Garzali), it may refer to:
* Ahmad Ghazali (c. 1061–1123 or 1126), Persian mystic
* Lynda Ghazzali, Malaysian porcelain painter
...
). The show was the ground for many controversies in terms of censorship and changes in the story. In 2006, Hezar Dastan was voted by the
Association of Iranian movies and TV critics
Association may refer to:
*Club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal
*Trade association, an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry
*Voluntary associatio ...
as the best Iranian TV series ever made.
Plot
''The story is split into two different timelines. The events of World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran is where the main narrative takes place, but a great deal of the story is told through flashbacks to the last days of Qajar dynasty by Reza Khoshnevis.''
Qazarian jewelry shop is robbed by Moffatesh Shesh Angoshti (
Davoud Rashidi
Davoud Rashidi ( fa, داوود رشیدی; July 16, 1933 – August 26, 2016) was an Iranian actor. His daughter, Leili Rashidi, is also an actress.
Career
His first film was ''Escape from the Trap'' (1971, Jalal Moghadam) after years of stage ...
) during an official census by the government, following a direct order by
Reza Shah Pahlavi
,
, spouse = Maryam Savadkoohi Tadj ol-Molouk Ayromlu (queen consort)Turan AmirsoleimaniEsmat Dowlatshahi
, issue = Princess Hamdamsaltaneh Princess ShamsMohammad Reza Shah Princess Ashraf Prince Ali Reza Prince Gholam Reza Prin ...
. As a result of this robbery, a set of jewelry that belonged to Khan-e-Mozaffar's daughter-in-law, Amineh Aghdas (
Zahra Hatami Zahra, and other spellings of the same Arabic word, can refer to:
People
*Zahra (name), a feminine given name and a surname
*Abdul Zahra, male given name
Towns and districts
* Zahra, Ardabil, a village in Iran
* Zahret Medien, town in Tunisia
* ...
) went missing. Khan -e- Mozaffar (
Ezzatolah Entezami
Ezzatolah Entezami ( fa, عزتالله انتظامی, 21 June 1924 – 17 August 2018) was an Iranian actor.
Career
Ezzatolah Entezami started his career on stage in 1941 and graduated from theatre and cinema school in Hanover, Germany in ...
), a mysterious aristocrat who used to be the governor of
Kerman
Kerman ( fa, كرمان, Kermân ; also romanization of Persian, romanized as Kermun and Karmana), known in ancient times as the satrapy of Carmania, is the capital city of Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2011 census, its population was 821,394, in ...
when
Ahmad Shah Qajar
Ahmad Shah Qajar ( fa, احمد شاه قاجار; 21 January 1898 – 21 February 1930) was Shah of Persia (Iran) from 16 July 1909 to 15 December 1925, and the last ruling member of the Qajar dynasty.
Ahmad Shah was born in Tabriz on 21 Janu ...
was in power but has taken full-time residence in The Grand Hotel in
Laleh-Zar Street
Laleh-Zar street ( fa, خیابان لالهزار) is one of the oldest streets of Tehran, Iran. This street is bordered to the south by Imam Khomeini square (former Toopkhaneh), and to the north by Enqelab Street (former Shah Reza Street).
...
of
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
, asks the Head of
Shahrbani
''Shahrbani'' ( fa, شهربانی, Šahrbānī, lit=urban protection), formerly called ''Nazmiyeh'' ( fa, نظمیه, Naẓmīya, lit=order agency), was a law enforcement force in Iran with police duties inside cities. Founded during Qajar dynast ...
(
Jafar Vali) to locate the missing jewels. So the Head of
Shahrbani
''Shahrbani'' ( fa, شهربانی, Šahrbānī, lit=urban protection), formerly called ''Nazmiyeh'' ( fa, نظمیه, Naẓmīya, lit=order agency), was a law enforcement force in Iran with police duties inside cities. Founded during Qajar dynast ...
assigns Moffatesh to find the set of jewelry.
Moffatesh searches his cache of stolen jewels, but realizes the missing jewels are not among them. So he suspects that the jewels must be among the ones that are sold to an unnamed Princess (
Afsar Asadi
Afsar Asadi (; born 16 January 1958) is an Iranian actress and make-up artist.
Filmography
As an actress
* Movies
* TV Series
As a make-up artist
Awards
* Best Supporting Actress, Fajr Film Festival, for Obour Az Ghobar (1990 ...
). Moffatesh then conspires to have Shaban Ostekhani (
Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz
Mohamad-Ali Keshavarz ( fa, محمدعلی کشاورز; April 15, 1930 – June 14, 2020) was an Iranian cinema and theater actor.
Early life
He was born on 15 April 1930 in Sichan (neighbourhood), Isfahan. He was the second child of the family ...
) interrupt the premiere of
Lor Girl so that he can steal the jewels from The Princess in the chaos. But after showing them to Amineh Aghdas it is revealed that the jewels that were taken from The Princess are not the right ones. So after yet another unsuccessful attempt, Moffatesh realizes that a Police Officer (
Nematollah Gorji) stole the set in the process of the robbery. He pressures the officer and retrieves the jewels for Khan -e- Mozaffar. Khan -e- Mozaffar, pleased with Moffatesh's loyalty and services, assigns him a task to get some highly sought-after calligraphy collection from a calligrapher in
Mashhad.
Moffatesh, eager to please the men of power, travels to
Mashhad and finds Reza Khoshnevis (
Jamshid Mashayekhi
Jamshid Mashayekhi ( fa, جمشید مشایخی , November 26, 1934 – April 2, 2019) was an Iranian actor.
Career
Mashayekhi began professional acting on stage in 1957. His first feature film role was ''Brick and Mirror ''(1965, Ebrahim Golest ...
). As per request of Khan -e- Mozaffar, Moffatesh then starts interrogating and torturing Reza Khoshnevis, until he breaks his will and he agrees to hand over his possessions to Moffatesh, but before doing so decides to tell Moffatesh a little about his personal history.
During the ruling of
Ahmad Shah Qajar
Ahmad Shah Qajar ( fa, احمد شاه قاجار; 21 January 1898 – 21 February 1930) was Shah of Persia (Iran) from 16 July 1909 to 15 December 1925, and the last ruling member of the Qajar dynasty.
Ahmad Shah was born in Tabriz on 21 Janu ...
, Reza Khoshnevis (known then as Tofangchi and working as a rifleman), was employed by many aristocrats to accompany them during their hunting trips and lived a life of luxury but without any purpose. Until one day Reza's world is shaken due to a meeting with Abolfath (
Ali Nassirian), a bookbinder in the
Grand Bazaar of Tehran that starts a political discussion with Reza about his life and the hardship of common man under the rule of corrupt politicians and aristocracy. Reza, feeling a sense of obligation to his fellow men, then joins with Abolfath's secret organization (by the name of
Komiteh Mojazat, roughly translated to "Retribution Committee") to act as a hired gun. His first target was Esmaeel Khan (
Esmaeel Payandeh), the man in charge of Tehran's granary and from the perspective of Abolfath, the man responsible for famine among commoners.
After the assassination of Esmaeel Khan, Reza is tasked to kill another man: Matin -o- Saltane (
Parviz Poorhosseini
Parviz Poorhosseini ( fa, پرویز پورحسینی, 11 September 1941 – 27 November 2020) was an Iranian film, theater and television actor.
Biography
He was best known for his roles in ''Bashu, the Little Stranger'' (1989), '' The Fifth Se ...
), the editor-in-chief of a conservative newspaper who was condemned by Komiteh Mojazat for publishing what they deemed as "untrue" or "treacherous to Iranian way of life". During this time, a government official by the name of Baqer Mirza (
Jahangir Forouhar
Jahangir Forouhar (; May 24, 1916 – November 6, 1997) was an Iranian actor.
Biography
Forouhar was born in 1916 in the city of Isfahan. His father was Mustafa Khan Davam al-Saltanah. His grandfather was Mirza Mohammad Ali Khan Ghavam al-Da ...
) is tasked to investigate the death of Esmaeel Khan. So the members of Komiteh Mojazat hire Shaban Ostekhani, then a notoriously violent homeless man whose job was to collect animal bones from eateries and make animal glue out of them, to keep an eye out for Baqer Mirza. Despite Baqer Mirza's threat, the assassination of Matin -o- Saltane goes underway successfully. Though Komiteh Mojazat later realizes the threat of Baqer Mirza more clearly, and so Shaban decapitates him as a message to government officials.
At this time, Abolfath and Reza were preparing for the assassination of what they deemed to be their biggest target and the most corrupt and powerful man in Iranian government. A man that Komiteh Mojazat gave the code-name of "Hezardastan" (English: The Nightingale, though can also mean "a creature with a thousand hands") to. But Abolfath tells Reza that Hezardastan is paying off the members of committee, and is slowly buying them off. Fearing for their own lives, Abolfath sends his wife and children to
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
and advises Reza to leave for
Mashhad. Reza at first refuses, but after he's chased by Shaban under the orders of Hezardastan he finally leaves Tehran. In
Mashhad, Reza takes refuge in the home of an old aristocrat by the name of Jalal ol-Molk (
Hooshang Beheshti) and marries his daughter, Qamar (
Shahla Mir Bakhtiar). He then retires his gun and starts to earn his living as a calligrapher, peacefully living outside of political landscape of Tehran and not knowing what happened to Hezardastan or Abolfath.
Moved by his story, Moffatesh reveals his true intentions behind interrogating Reza, but Reza refuses to go back to his home and asks Moffatesh to take him to Tehran to finish his mission and be able to locate and kill Hezardastan. After arriving in Tehran, Reza is taken to The Grand Hotel and given a room next to Khan -e- Mozaffar. In there Reza sells him his handwritten collection and begins to work as a ghost writer for Khan -e- Mozaffar, writing his memoirs. During this time the
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran is happening and people are constantly rioting against the government and in one of this riots Shaban uses the opportunity to ransack several stores, including one belonging to an iron-smith by the name of Seyyed Morteza (
Hosein Gil). Realizing the threat of Shaban, Khan -e- Mozaffar orders Moffatesh to kill Shaban. Moffatesh, still feeling loyalty toward Khan -e- Mozaffar, plans some government
opium
Opium (or poppy tears, scientific name: ''Lachryma papaveris'') is dried latex obtained from the seed capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid morphine, which i ...
on Shaban and kills him.
Meanwhile Reza, while writing the memoirs of Khan -e- Mozaffar, slowly realizes that he is in fact Hezardastan; and that he is more powerful than he appears to be. Reza also learns that Abolfath was killed in prison by his then cellmate, Shaban. Reza tries to inform Moffatesh of this news, but Moffatesh tells him that he knew of Khan -e- Mozaffar's influence in everyday lives of Iranian people and he sees no way out of his employment. Moffatesh then is killed in his wedding day by Qolam Amme (
Mohamad Motie), Shaban's nephew who in return got hanged for the murder of a police officer. Reza, once again shaken by the events and the apparent uselessness of common man in the face of powers behind the curtain, decides to leave Tehran, but his attempt is stopped by Khan -e- Mozaffar and he is informed that he cannot leave town until the memoirs are fully written. Reza, feeling helpless, decides to assassinate Khan -e- Mozaffar and finish his mission of eliminating Hezardastan. But his decision is discovered and he is poisoned by the Head Waiter of Grand Hotel (also portrayed by
Jahangir Forouhar
Jahangir Forouhar (; May 24, 1916 – November 6, 1997) was an Iranian actor.
Biography
Forouhar was born in 1916 in the city of Isfahan. His father was Mustafa Khan Davam al-Saltanah. His grandfather was Mirza Mohammad Ali Khan Ghavam al-Da ...
) before his attempt.
Weakened by the poison, Reza takes his gun and goes into Khan -e- Mozaffar's room to assassinate him; but instead is faced with the Head Waiter in Khan -e- Mozaffar's bed. Confused and barely standing, Reza goes to the balcony and then is pushed out by the Head Waiter. As people gather around Reza's corpse, Seyyed Morteza sees Khan -e- Mozaffar on the balcony looking down at the people and Reza. A voice over concludes the story, telling that Seyyed Morteza killed Khan -e- Mozaffar in the near future.
Partial Cast
![Reza Tofangchi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Reza_Tofangchi.jpg)
![Khan -e- Mozaffar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Khan_-e-_Mozaffar.jpg)
![Moffatesh Shesh Angoshti](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Moffatesh_Shesh_Angoshti.jpg)
![Abolfath](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Abolfath.jpg)
![Shaban Ostekhani](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Shaban_Ostekhani.jpg)
![Baqer Mirza](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Baqer_Mirza.jpg)
*
Jamshid Mashayekhi
Jamshid Mashayekhi ( fa, جمشید مشایخی , November 26, 1934 – April 2, 2019) was an Iranian actor.
Career
Mashayekhi began professional acting on stage in 1957. His first feature film role was ''Brick and Mirror ''(1965, Ebrahim Golest ...
as Reza Khoshnevis (Tofangchi):
:An old calligrapher, ex-hunter and mercenary for Komiteh Mojazat. He is loosely based on four historical figures:
Emad ol-Kottab,
Mirza Mohammad Reza Kalhor,
Karim Davatgar and
Ali Hatami himself. He is the main link between the two halves of the story.
*
Ezzatolah Entezami
Ezzatolah Entezami ( fa, عزتالله انتظامی, 21 June 1924 – 17 August 2018) was an Iranian actor.
Career
Ezzatolah Entezami started his career on stage in 1941 and graduated from theatre and cinema school in Hanover, Germany in ...
as Khan -e- Mozaffar (Hezardastan):
:The former governor of
Kerman
Kerman ( fa, كرمان, Kermân ; also romanization of Persian, romanized as Kermun and Karmana), known in ancient times as the satrapy of Carmania, is the capital city of Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2011 census, its population was 821,394, in ...
, who lives full time in the Grand Hotel. He is presumably the most powerful man in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
and controls everything from Import / Export dealings with foreign powers to Political Decisions of newly appointed
Mohammad Reza Shah. He is presumed to be based on
Abdol-Hossein Farmanfarma, though Ali Hatami constantly insisted that he was supposed to be the representation of all old powerful families that lived during the
Qajar dynasty and not Farmanfarma alone.
*
Davoud Rashidi
Davoud Rashidi ( fa, داوود رشیدی; July 16, 1933 – August 26, 2016) was an Iranian actor. His daughter, Leili Rashidi, is also an actress.
Career
His first film was ''Escape from the Trap'' (1971, Jalal Moghadam) after years of stage ...
as Moffatesh Shesh Angoshti ( en, The Six-Fingered Inspector):
: A corrupt investigator and interrogator who works for Khan -e- Mozaffar. According to Ali Hatami, he is based on a few historical figures such as
Muhammad-Husayn Ayrom,
Rokneddin Mokhtari,
Mohammad Dargahi, Abbas Bakhtiari and
Adib ol-Saltaneh. He is supposed to represent the authority figures, still under the influence of traditional family powers which have not been extinguished.
*
Ali Nassirian as Abolfath the Bookbinder:
:An
Azeri
Azerbaijanis (; az, Azərbaycanlılar, ), Azeris ( az, Azərilər, ), or Azerbaijani Turks ( az, Azərbaycan Türkləri, ) are a Turkic people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. They are the second-most numer ...
revolutionary who believes that by eliminating people who "betray Iran", many of the problems plaguing the common man will also be eliminated. He is a representation of nationalists involved in
Persian Constitutional Revolution, and his Azeri accent is also reminiscent of many people who fought for the Constitutional Revolution. He is also loosely based on
Mirza Ebrahim Monshizadeh,
Assadollah Khan Abolfathzadeh and
Mohammad Nazar Khan Meshkat al-Mamalek, the people behind the actual Komiteh Mojazat during
Qajar dynasty.
*
Mohammad-Ali Keshavarz
Mohamad-Ali Keshavarz ( fa, محمدعلی کشاورز; April 15, 1930 – June 14, 2020) was an Iranian cinema and theater actor.
Early life
He was born on 15 April 1930 in Sichan (neighbourhood), Isfahan. He was the second child of the family ...
as Shaban Ostadkhani (Ostekhani):
:A local thug who started working for Komiteh Mojazat, and later managed to become the de facto leader of a major organized crime group in Tehran during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He is shown as illiterate and with no regards as to whom he gives his allegiance. He is a representation of many social figures and leaders of local street thugs such as
Tayeb Haj Rezaei and
Shaban Jafari
Shaban Jafari ( fa, شعبان جعفری; 19 August 1921 – 21 March 2006), often known as Shaban the Brainless ( fa, شعبان بیمخ, Sha'bān-e Bi-mokh, links=no) or Shaban the Crown-Bestower ( fa, شعبان تاجبخش, Sha'bān-e T ...
. Despite his small role in the more high-stakes political decisions, he is the most violent power in play and mostly is shown in scenes of extreme blood and gore while nobody can muster up the courage to attack him, with a few who manage to attack him unable to inflict any damage due to his overgrown figure and stature.
*
Jahangir Forouhar
Jahangir Forouhar (; May 24, 1916 – November 6, 1997) was an Iranian actor.
Biography
Forouhar was born in 1916 in the city of Isfahan. His father was Mustafa Khan Davam al-Saltanah. His grandfather was Mirza Mohammad Ali Khan Ghavam al-Da ...
as Baqer Mirza:
:An agent of
Qajar
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
police force who has been tasked by royal officials to find the assassin (or assassins) of Esmaeel Khan. He is shown as extremely more clever than his fellow officers, and has the foresight to see into many different social problems and their solutions. He is deemed a threat by
Komiteh Mojazat after he is seen talking to Reza Khoshnevis, and so he is killed by Shaban Ostekhani while getting a shave.
:* Jahangir Forouhar also plays the role of Head Waiter in Grand Hotel. An unnamed worker who is extremely loyal to Khan -e- Mozaffar. He is shown to almost be Khan -e- Mozaffar's personal assistant and his loyalty goes to the point that he puts his own life at risk by laying in Khan -e- Mozaffar's bed when Reza Khoshnevis attempts to assassinate him. He is the one who ultimately pushes Reza Khoshnevis to his doom.
*
Hosein Gil as Seyyed Morteza, an iron-smith in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
who later kills Khan -e- Mozaffar
*
Jafar Vali as Head of
Shahrbani
''Shahrbani'' ( fa, شهربانی, Šahrbānī, lit=urban protection), formerly called ''Nazmiyeh'' ( fa, نظمیه, Naẓmīya, lit=order agency), was a law enforcement force in Iran with police duties inside cities. Founded during Qajar dynast ...
, who is loyal to Khan -e- Mozaffar
*
Zahra Hatami Zahra, and other spellings of the same Arabic word, can refer to:
People
*Zahra (name), a feminine given name and a surname
*Abdul Zahra, male given name
Towns and districts
* Zahra, Ardabil, a village in Iran
* Zahret Medien, town in Tunisia
* ...
as Amineh Aghdas, Khan -e- Mozaffar's daughter-in-law
**
Leila Hatami
Leila Hatami ( fa, لیلا حاتمی; born October 1, 1972) is an Iranian actress. She has received numerous accolades, including a Silver Bear, two Crystal Simorghs, two Hafez Awards, two Iran Cinema Celebration Awards and three Iran's Film ...
portrays her as a young girl
*
Shahla Mir Bakhtiar as Qamar Banoo, Reza Khoshnevis's wife
*
Mansoor Vala Magham as the Grand Hotel's Manager
*
Parvis Poorhosseini as Matin -o- Saltane, editor-in-chief of "Asr -e- Jadid" newspaper
*
Mohamad Motie as Qolam Amme, Shaban's nephew
*
Jamshid Layegh as Jafar Gholi Khan Neshat (Uncle Neshat), a government agent during the census
*
Esmaeel Mehrabi as Nasrollah Khorami, a government agent during the census
*
Rogheyeh Chehreh-Azad as Qodsi, Khan -e- Mozaffar's maid
*
Mino Abrishami as Jeiran, Abolfath's wife
*
Ataollah Zahed as Seyyed Ebrahim Rohani, a
rohani
*
Esmail Mohammadi as Ostad Bahar, music teacher
*
Nematollah Gorji as Police Officer
*
Mohammad Varshouchi as Police Officer
*
Soroosh Khalili as Qazarian, an
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
jeweler during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
**Soroosh Khalili also portrays the small role of Saqadar (a volunteer in charge of public water repositories) in Reza Khoshnevis's memories of old Tehran.
*
Hooshang Beheshti as Jalal ol-Molk, an aristocrat in
Mashhad and Reza Khoshnevis's father-in-law
*
Esmaeel Payandeh as Esmaeel Khan, an aristocrat in charge of Tehran's granary
*
Mohammad Taqi Kahnamuei as Mirza Hoda, a
Dervish
Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from fa, درویش, ''Darvīsh'') in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity
A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, ...
*
Jahangir Almasi
Djahangir Almasi ( fa, جهانگیر الماسی, born 21 March 1950 in Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian actor.
He has played different roles in his career, but he is known mainly as an actor who plays serious and intellectual roles. He started hi ...
as Doctor Feiz, an educated man of arts who has recently returned from abroad
*
Saeed Amirsoleimani as Moeer ol-Doleh, an aristocrat in
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
and the employer of Reza Khoshnevis before
Komiteh Mojazat
*
Asghar Hemmat Asghar ( fa, اصغر, links=no) is a Persian name and may refer to:
Given name
* Asghar Ali (cricketer, born 1971), United Arab Emirates cricketer
* Asghar Ali (cricketer, born 1924) (1924–1979), cricketer in India from 1943 to 1949, and in Pa ...
as Hassan, a soldier of Iranian Army during
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
*Manouchehr Azari as the Grand Hotel's Doorman
*
Akbar Doodkar as The Pharmacist
*
Mahmoud Basiri as Dry Cleaner
*
Afsar Asadi
Afsar Asadi (; born 16 January 1958) is an Iranian actress and make-up artist.
Filmography
As an actress
* Movies
* TV Series
As a make-up artist
Awards
* Best Supporting Actress, Fajr Film Festival, for Obour Az Ghobar (1990 ...
as The Princess
*
Mehri Vadadian
Mehri Vadadian (–) was an Iranian actress, known for her roles in numerous films and TV dramas. Among her films such as ''Shazdeh Ehtejab'' (dir. Bahman Farmanara), ''Downpour'' (dir. Bahram Beizai), ''The Morning of the Fourth Day'' (dir. Kam ...
as Esmaeel Khan's Wife
*
Farhang Mehrparvar as Dr. Khandan
Controversies
The ending
The show was censored numerous times before it was cleared for screening by Islamic organizations in Iran. There are many rumors that the censorship even got to the point that the show's ending was changed from a more politically charged one involving
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
and Khan -e- Mozaffar's involvement in the
Axis powers
The Axis powers, ; it, Potenze dell'Asse ; ja, 枢軸国 ''Sūjikukoku'', group=nb originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis, was a military coalition that initiated World War II and fought against the Allies. Its principal members were ...
. The abrupt ending of the show (ending on a voice over narration to conclude a very complicated plot while
Ali Hatami was known for writing very detailed stories) and the fact that many of the main characters seem to vanish midway into the story were both clues for this rumor. As more people told their memories of the production, it was obvious that many scenes were cut and the ending might have been one of them.
"Komiteh Mojazat" and "Tehran, the New Days"
The show was re-edited by
Varuzh Karim-Masihi
Varuzh Karim-Masihi ( hy, Վարուժ Քարիմ Մասիհի; fa, واروژ کریممسیحی, born 1953 in َArak) is an Iranian-Armenian film director, film editor, and screenplay writer.
Biography
Born in 1952 in Arak, he had his el ...
as two feature films by the names of "
Komiteh Mojazat" and "
Tehran, the New Days" in 1999, each taking place in one part of the show's timeline and only telling half of the story. "
Komiteh Mojazat" taking place in Reza Khoshnevis' memories and telling the tale of assassinations done by Reza and Abolfath, while "Tehran, the New Days" focuses only on the events of
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran and the last days of Reza's life. The re-edited movies were heavily criticized by the family of
Ali Hatami, who had died three years prior, for not acquiring permission and butchering many of the themes and important story beats that made the show so compelling and unique.
References
External links
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{{IRIB programming
Iranian television series
1980s Iranian television series
1987 Iranian television series debuts
1987 Iranian television series endings
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting original programming
Persian-language television shows