Variety interviews foreign-language female directors; Narges Abyar included

Iranian director Narges Abyar has been interviewed by leading US film magazine Variety among a selection of foreign-language female directors for the next round of Oscars.

 With astounding 27 women leading the 92 foreign-language film submissions across the globe, Variety posed the same questions to a selection of directors about their experiences, including director Abyar who was behind Iran submission for 2018 Oscar race.

The following were the queries:

What was your biggest obstacle in making the film? What was the key to your breakthrough? What is your creative goal? Who are your filmmaking heroes? What would you like the world to know about being a woman film director and the message you want to send?

‘Breath’ helmer answered the question as follows:

“Being a woman was the most important obstacle in the beginning of my career since I had to get everyone’s trust for my work. This is a historical problem all over the world, that women are firstly seen for their sex and their arts and abilities are ignored.

The key breakthrough in my career, whether as a writer or as a filmmaker, was that I could do what I liked to do, especially when I started my film career. I have made the films that I am willing to make and I am so happy for this. I do not believe that the success of a film or filmmaker depends on box office or festival awards, but that the filmmaker should be satisfied with her or his work.

For me, the greatest breakthrough has been that both the audience and other filmmakers liked my films, especially my last two feature films, ‘Track 143’ and ‘Breath.’ I also consider the very positive feedback of the critics who liked my films and no doubt, I would be happier to have even a broader audience as I do not make films only for myself.

“I want to make a film that, above all, I would be convinced by, as I am very strict about my own works and honestly, I am trying to make my own films and not be impacted by current Iranian cinema and the more you make a movie out of your heart, I am sure it will have more impact on the audience.

“I learn from many filmmakers and even the unknown filmmakers, but I can say the more important ones are Kieslowski and Inarritu.

“As a filmmaker belonging to a generation who has spent her life in a war period, the confrontation of women and children with the very complicated issue of war has been my obsession and I have followed this issue in my films, too — to try to be the loud voice of these women and children who were always looking for the essence of life under the shadow of war and their very innocent wish for life, makes the necessity of peace unavoidable for me and them, too.”

Famed US actress Angelina Jolie also answered the same questions for her film ‘First They Killed My Father’ representing Cambodia in the foreign language film strand of Oscars.

The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018.

AG/AG