ifilm's exclusive report on Iranian feature ‘Fish Lake’

Watch ifilm's exclusive report on the Iranian feature film ‘Fish Lake’ produced by Saeed Sadi and directed by Maryam Dousti, starring Setareh Eskandari.

The following are highlights of the report.

ifilm: ‘Fish Lake’ was directed by Maryam Dousti and it was her first feature film. It took her three years to make this movie.

Dousti: Before making my first feature film, I used to make short films. I was also a make-up designer in the cinema industry and also a scriptwriter. I used to teach all these, too.

I made my first feature film with a lot of delay. Many years ago, I was supposed to make a film on the Sacred Defense and it was postponed due to some reasons.

I put aside that screenplay and after a couple of years I began working on this one.

ifilm: Maryam Dousti believes that filmmaking for women is very, very challenging.

Dousti: Just take a look at the proportion of male and female filmmakers.

How many male and female filmmakers do we have? It’s not even one to ten. This shows that we have a completely patriarchal and traditional culture in Iran. It’s undeniable.

ifilm: Maryam Dousti has chosen a method of making which looks like other methods but is actually exclusive to her.

Dousti: I haven’t copied any director. This is a one of a kind movie. I don’t mean to say that it’s excellent and a masterpiece, but it’s exclusive to me, this method of filmmaking.

Not many have the courage to make poetic movies like this which don’t have any scenes of battles and killing or sophisticated lines. No one!

Not many have the courage for it. This is exclusive to me only. I am the only one who can deal with it.

AI/AG