Pouran Derakhshandeh: Comedy and Social Films Need Equal Screening Time
TEHRAN (Iranart) - Director of Under the Smokey Roof says people should be encouraged to watch both comedy and realistic drama or social movies, because films are great. They can capture your imagination and educate you about issues you might not know.
Pouran Derakhshandeh says society needs laughter and leisure activities; but it also needs education and awareness. It needs to know how to take care of life itself. Social movies can educate you to do just that.
Speaking to HONARONLINE, the veteran director, whose new movie Smokey Roof has hit the screens nationwide, says she is trying to get license for her upcoming movie Hush! Boys Don't Scream. For the time being though, she is traveling across the country to premiere her latest motion picture.
On the performance of the movie at the box office, she says: Glad to say people love it. Audiences see their own social problems on the screen. That’s why they feel connected to its characters. In many Q and A sessions, they keep telling me that the story of Under the Smokey Roof is their life story.
Derakhshandeh was not happy with the screening schedule at the beginning, but now she has had a change of heart. She says it is important to understand the circumstances: Cinema needs all types of genres. They all have their own audiences. Both comedies and dramas can capture the imagination of audiences.
She added: Comedies are popular. People need to see them. It helps get rid of stress of their daily lives. They want to laugh for a while and forget about everything. But besides comedies they need to watch social dramas as well. Social movies should have equal screening times. This gives audiences the chance to choose which one to watch.
She goes on to argue that society needs awareness: If we encourage people to also watch social films it would certainly serve the industry. Things will change for the better. More directors will be encouraged to make social movies. Society needs both laughter and awareness. Social movies can influence the way people think about life and how to take care of it.
On box office reception of social movies, she said: More people are watching social movies. My Hush! Girls Don't Scream did well at the box office. It proved people need to know more and that this kind of movies can help. It offers us the chance to make similar movies that delve deeper into our society.
On similarities between the titles of her two movies she said: A movie needs to talk for itself. It makes my job difficult. I try not to create confusion or misunderstanding for audiences. The story of Hush! Boys Don't Scream has a social theme. You couldn’t possibly pass on it so easily.
On her next movie, she said: I did some research. Hush! Girls Don't Scream has an open-ended story. I now want to talk about boys and their problems too. I have no clue when I could start the actual work. But I’m determined to make a movie about this subject.
On her young stars in the movie, Derakhshandeh says she is OK with having youngsters starring in her films: I’m one hundred percent fine with that. Many established actors and actresses will soon become retired. We need new talents to replace them. We have to spot them and get them into the film industry. We have to give them the chance and share our experiences. They should be allowed to get into this business. All directors have a duty to support young actors and actresses. We could easily attend acting classes to spot them. They need to be seen. But they need to realise that if they want this for fame, they will in the end become disappointed.
In conclusion, Derakhshandeh said she has no idea whether or not her next movie would be censored: I don’t know. I usually make this kind of movies to create social awareness. This includes topics such as family and its role in training and education. After all these years, you are supposed to know the red lines and not cross them. I know the red lines and after so many years of making films I know I won’t cross them.