The Blue Veiled
روسری آبی
A touching exploration of forbidden love across Iran’s rigid class divides, The Blue Veiled stands as one of Rakhshan Banietemad’s most significant works – both as a landmark of Iranian New Wave cinema and as a rare female-directed study of working-class women’s lives. This beautifully restrained drama follows the unlikely romance between Rasool Rahmani, a wealthy widower, and Nobar Kordani, a strong-willed female factory worker struggling to support her impoverished family. Set against the stark beauty of rural Iran’s industrial landscapes, their relationship becomes a moving study of class divides and human connection.
Banietemad’s masterful direction blends neorealist authenticity with lyrical storytelling, creating a work that is both socially observant and deeply emotional. Her sensitive portrayal of working-class women’s lives – developed through careful research – gives the film remarkable depth and resonance. Winner of the Bronze Leopard at the 1995 Locarno Film Festival, The Blue Veiled showcases Bani-Etemad’s unique ability to find universal truths in quiet, everyday moments.
Online Q&A with director Rakhshan Banietemad after the screening.
RAKHSHAN BANIETEMAD
Rakhshan Banietemad was born in 1954 in Tehran. She began her career making documentaries for Iranian National Television after graduating from Tehran’s University of Dramatic Arts (1979). Transitioning to features in 1987 with Off the Limits, she broke barriers as the first woman to win Best Director at Iran’s Fajr Festival with Nargess (1991). Her international breakthrough came with The Blue Veiled (1995 Locarno Bronze Leopard), followed by Under the Skin of the City (2000’s highest-grossing Iranian film). Works like Gilaneh (2005) and Mainline (2006) earned over 50 festival awards. Equally acclaimed for documentaries, she made history with Our Times (2002) – Iran’s first theatrical documentary – screened at IDFA, Sundance, and ARTE.
Sun Apr 27, 2025 | 16:00
Stadtkino
Red Lotus 2025
Buy ticket
Iran 1995
87 Min | Color | Farsi with English subtitles
Directed by Rakhshan BANIETEMAD
Cinematography Aziz SA’ATI Editing Abbas GANJAVI Sound Morteza DEHNAVI, Parviz ABNAR Music Ahmad PEJMAN Production design Hassan (Farshad) FARSI
With Ezzatolah ENTEZAMI, Fatemah MOTAMED-ARIA, Golab ADINEH, Afsar ASADI, Jamshid ESMAILKHANI, Farhad ASLANI, Baran KOSARI
World sales Noori Pictures
The Blue Veiled © Noori Pictures