Memorable mother roles in Iran cinema

On the occasion of National Mother Day in Iran, you are presented with some of the memorable roles played by Iranian famous actresses.

Roqayyeh Chehrehazad in the movie ‘Mother’ directed by Ali Hatami

Chehrehazad began her acting career with theater in 1931. She made her movie debut in 1948.

The late actress won a Crystal Simorgh for Best Actress in a Leading Role at Fajr International Film Festival at the age of 81 for her performance in ‘Mother’ (1989).

Chehrehazad, in ‘Mother’, played the role of an old mother who is trying to bring together her children who have lots of problems.

Sorayya Qasemi in the movie ‘The Residents of the Villas’ directed by Monireh Qeidi

Qasemi is the daughter of the late actress Hamideh Kheirabadi.

In the early 1960s, she began her career as a radio host, and then turned to stage acting. She also became involved in dubbing films and series.

‘The Residents of the Villas’ tells the story of the women who sacrificed everything to be with their loved ones during the war waged on Iran by Iraq during the 1980s.

Parvaneh Masoumi in the movie ‘Chrysanthemum Flowers’ directed by Rasoul Sadr-Ameli

Born Sakineh Kaboudarahangi, Masoumi is a celebrated Iranian actress who studied modern languages at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran.

She made her cinematic debut in 1971 with a short film titled ‘The Journey’.

‘Chrysanthemum Flowers’ tells the story of a man who kills his friend by accident and has to go to jail for 25 years. On the day of his freedom, his family are told that he is dead.

Hamideh Kheirabadi in the series ‘The Patriarch’ directed by Akbar Khajouee

Kheirabadi completed her secondary school education and married at a very young age.

She began her acting career on stage in 1953 and made her film debut in the same year with ‘Patriot’. She continued acting until the final years of her life.

A synopsis to the series reads “Assadollah is old school. He controls his family with an iron fist and his word is law. Nobody dares challenge him or talk back. He doesn't let any of his children out of his sight, even after they're married and have their own kids.”

Golab Adineh in the movie ‘Mom’s Guests’ directed by Darioush Mehrjouee

Born Golab Mosta'an, Adineh holds a degree in Political Economics from Iran's Shahid Beheshti University.

She began theater acting in 1975 as a student in a troupe formed by Mehdi Hashemi and Dariush Farhang, appeared in many plays.

A synopsis to the movie reads “In a poor Tehran neighborhood, Effat, who is the mother of two, is in a huge predicament because she has to prepare dinner for her guests. The guests are coming over at a time when she has nothing at home to make for dinner. The social comedy reaches its climax when the neighbors, despite being poor, do their best by each giving out what they have to help Effat serve her guests a decent dinner.”

PR/MG