Bahram Beyzai

Directing

Bahram Beyzai

Born 1938-12-26 · Tehran, Iran

Bahrām Beyzāie (also spelt Beizai, Beyza'i, Persian: بهرام بیضائی‎, 26 December 1938 — 27 December 2025) was a critically and popularly acclaimed filmmaker, playwright, theater director, screenwriter, film editor, and ostād ("master") of Persian letters, arts and Iranian studies. Beyzāie was the son of the poet Ne'matallah Beyzai (best known by his literary pseudonym "Zokā'i"). The celebrated poet Adib Beyzai, known as one of the most profound poets of 20th-century Iran, is Bahram's paternal uncle. Bahram Beyzaie's paternal grandfather, Mirzā Mohammad-Rezā Ārāni ("Ebn Ruh"), and paternal great-grandfather, the mulla Mohammad-Faqih Ārāni ("Ruh'ol-Amin"), were also notable poets. In spite of his somewhat belated start in cinema, Beyzai was often considered a pioneer of a generation of filmmakers whose works are sometimes described as the Iranian New Wave. His Bashu, the Little Stranger (1986) was voted "Best Iranian Film of all time" in November 1999 by a Persian movie magazine Picture World poll of 150 Iranian critics and professionals.[5] Still, even before the outset of his cinematic career in 1970, he was a leading playwright (as well as theater historian), so much so that he is often considered the greatest playwright of the Persian language, and holds a reputation as 'the Shakespeare of Persia'.

Acting credits

Dead End poster
7.0

Documentary about Babak Bayat (Persian: بابک بیات)(13 June 1946 – 26 November 2006). Babak Bayat was an Iranian songwriter and film score composer. He was repeatedly nominated for the Crystal Simorgh award in the field of the soundtrack at the Fajr Film Festival and received this award twice in 1991 and 1997.

Dead End

2008

Ahmad Shamlou: Master Poet of Liberty poster
7.7

A documentary about the most important modern Iranian poet and intellectual icon. Iranian poet Ahmad Shamlou talks about his poetry, the world of poetry, and his life. Filmed over a two year period from 1996 to 1998.

Ahmad Shamlou: Master Poet of Liberty

1999

Bukhara Chronicles poster
NR

Ali Dehbashi, the editor-in-chief of Bukhara Magazine, is forced to vacate his rented office. While struggling with asthma and the pressure of publishing a special issue dedicated to Ferdowsi, he continues to honor artists and visit ailing cultural figures. Homeless and unwell, his devotion to Iran’s literary legacy keeps him going.

Bukhara Chronicles

2025

Ballad of Bahram poster
NR

A documentary about Bahram Beyzai (Persian: بهرام بیضایی; born 26 December 1938). He is an Iranian playwright, theatre director, screenwriter, film editor, and ostād ("master") of Persian letters, arts, and Iranian studies.

Ballad of Bahram

2018

Summit of the Wave poster
NR

Part 3 of documentary trilogy about Persian poet Forough Farrokhzad. This part focuses on her theatre and film work.

Summit of the Wave

2003

The Green Cold poster
NR

Part 1 of the trilogy concerning Persian poet Farough Farrokhz. This film traces her personal life.

The Green Cold

1999

Ayyar-e Tanha poster
NR

about Bahram Beyzai

Ayyar-e Tanha

2020

Bahram Beyzaie: A Mosaic of Metaphors poster
NR

A documentary film by Bahman Maghsoodloo about Bahram Bayzaei and his cinema, released in 2019. Maghsoodloo's conversations with Bayzaei in this film were recorded in Tehran in 2002 and Palo Alto in 2017.

Bahram Beyzaie: A Mosaic of Metaphors

2019

پرونده کوتاه سگ‌کشی poster
NR

The documentary was produced in 2004.

پرونده کوتاه سگ‌کشی

Mohakate Ghazaleh Alizadeh poster
NR

A documentary about Ghazaleh Alizadeh who was an Iranian poet and writer.

Mohakate Ghazaleh Alizadeh

2009

Razor's Edge: The Legacy of Iranian Actresses poster
2.8

An examination of the work and lives of actresses in the Iranian film industry prior to the 1979 revolution, featuring myriad interviews and rare film clips.

Razor's Edge: The Legacy of Iranian Actresses

2016

Dialogue with the Wind poster
6.0

An Avant-garde short movie of Bahram Beizai about history of Kish island in south of Iran.

Dialogue with the Wind

1998

Pure White poster
NR

This documentary movie explores the professional life of Parviz Fanizadeh, Iranian actor of the 60s and 70s cinema and theater, with investigating through archival footage of his works and referring to his fellow artists.

Pure White

2022

Behind the camera

Uncle Moustache poster
7.0

A lonely old man takes to terrorizing the kids who build a football pitch next to his house.

Uncle Moustache

1970

Uncle Moustache poster
7.0

A lonely old man takes to terrorizing the kids who build a football pitch next to his house.

Uncle Moustache

1970

Journey poster
6.2

The story is about two poor boys’ search for their father through a Journey from downtown to uptown. Two hungry boys are forced to move through the events, people and unrealistic and risky places in a nightmarish way. A daily journey in search of their lost identity and worth!

Journey

1972

Journey poster
6.2

The story is about two poor boys’ search for their father through a Journey from downtown to uptown. Two hungry boys are forced to move through the events, people and unrealistic and risky places in a nightmarish way. A daily journey in search of their lost identity and worth!

Journey

1972

The Red Line poster
5.0

During the Islamic revolution a SAVAK member Amani marries a woman her name Laleh. Laleh is a doctor and helps the injures of the revolution. Her brother is too involved in the revolution.

The Red Line

1982

Maybe Some Other Time poster
5.6

Famed actress Susan Taslimi plays three roles here: Kian, who doubts her identity; Vida, the twin sister, a self-assured artist; and their mother, who gives up one child out of fear of poverty, then deprives the other of affection due to deep regrets regarding the child whom she has abandoned.

Maybe Some Other Time

1988

Maybe Some Other Time poster
5.6

Famed actress Susan Taslimi plays three roles here: Kian, who doubts her identity; Vida, the twin sister, a self-assured artist; and their mother, who gives up one child out of fear of poverty, then deprives the other of affection due to deep regrets regarding the child whom she has abandoned.

Maybe Some Other Time

1988

Killing Mad Dogs poster
6.8

Golrokh, an Iranian author, struggles to settle her husband's debts caused by a business partner who left him to bear the consequences.

Killing Mad Dogs

2001

Killing Mad Dogs poster
6.8

Golrokh, an Iranian author, struggles to settle her husband's debts caused by a business partner who left him to bear the consequences.

Killing Mad Dogs

2001

Killing Mad Dogs poster
6.8

Golrokh, an Iranian author, struggles to settle her husband's debts caused by a business partner who left him to bear the consequences.

Killing Mad Dogs

2001

Persian Carpet poster
5.0

Persian Carpet is an omnibus film produced by Iran's National Carpet Center and Farabi Cinema Foundation where 15 renowned Iranian directors contributed films on the subject of Persian carpet. Carpets are the reflection of the cultural and historical identity of Iran.

Persian Carpet

2007

Persian Carpet poster
5.0

Persian Carpet is an omnibus film produced by Iran's National Carpet Center and Farabi Cinema Foundation where 15 renowned Iranian directors contributed films on the subject of Persian carpet. Carpets are the reflection of the cultural and historical identity of Iran.

Persian Carpet

2007

The Fateful Day poster
7.4

As Abdollah prepares to get married to his long-time love, he hears calls for help during his wedding and leaves the ceremony for an adventure to find the truth.

The Fateful Day

1995

Death of Yazdgerd poster
7.8

A poetic imagining of the circumstances leading to the death of Yazdgerd III, the last of the Sassanid kings of Iran. His death in 651, during the Arab invasions that brought Islam to this Zoroastrian realm, remains mysterious: his corpse is discovered in a mill, but the cause of death—and the whereabouts of his remains—are unknown.

Death of Yazdgerd

1982

Death of Yazdgerd poster
7.8

A poetic imagining of the circumstances leading to the death of Yazdgerd III, the last of the Sassanid kings of Iran. His death in 651, during the Arab invasions that brought Islam to this Zoroastrian realm, remains mysterious: his corpse is discovered in a mill, but the cause of death—and the whereabouts of his remains—are unknown.

Death of Yazdgerd

1982

The Stranger and the Fog poster
7.3

In a remote seaside village, its residents' peaceful lives are upended when they spot a mysterious boat drifting toward the shore. Upon pulling it in, they find a weary and wounded stranger named Ayat, who only recalls being attacked and barely escaping with his life. As Ayat tries to rebuild his sense of self and uncover his past, he becomes a source of curiosity and suspicion in the community.

The Stranger and the Fog

1975

The Stranger and the Fog poster
7.3

In a remote seaside village, its residents' peaceful lives are upended when they spot a mysterious boat drifting toward the shore. Upon pulling it in, they find a weary and wounded stranger named Ayat, who only recalls being attacked and barely escaping with his life. As Ayat tries to rebuild his sense of self and uncover his past, he becomes a source of curiosity and suspicion in the community.

The Stranger and the Fog

1975

Bashu, the Little Stranger poster
7.4

During the Iran-Iraq War, young Bashu loses his home and family. Orphaned, he sneaks into a truck leaving the area, and gets off in the Northern country, where everything from landscape to language is different. He meets Naii, trying to raise her two young children on a farm while her husband is away. Despite cultural differences and a language barrier, Bashu and Naii slowly form a strong bond.

Bashu, the Little Stranger

1989

Bashu, the Little Stranger poster
7.4

During the Iran-Iraq War, young Bashu loses his home and family. Orphaned, he sneaks into a truck leaving the area, and gets off in the Northern country, where everything from landscape to language is different. He meets Naii, trying to raise her two young children on a farm while her husband is away. Despite cultural differences and a language barrier, Bashu and Naii slowly form a strong bond.

Bashu, the Little Stranger

1989

Ballad of Tara poster
7.1

Beautiful young widow Tara returns to her village with her two children from the country. On her way home, she learns that her grandfather has died, and distributes his belongings among her neighbours. But there remains an old sword that no one will accept. One day, on the road, Tara meets an ancient warrior, who claims that his clan have sent him to take the old sword back.

Ballad of Tara

1979

Ballad of Tara poster
7.1

Beautiful young widow Tara returns to her village with her two children from the country. On her way home, she learns that her grandfather has died, and distributes his belongings among her neighbours. But there remains an old sword that no one will accept. One day, on the road, Tara meets an ancient warrior, who claims that his clan have sent him to take the old sword back.

Ballad of Tara

1979

Ballad of Tara poster
7.1

Beautiful young widow Tara returns to her village with her two children from the country. On her way home, she learns that her grandfather has died, and distributes his belongings among her neighbours. But there remains an old sword that no one will accept. One day, on the road, Tara meets an ancient warrior, who claims that his clan have sent him to take the old sword back.

Ballad of Tara

1979

The Fifth Season poster
7.0

The fight for power in an isolated village. Two families have been enemies for so long they cannot even remember why. The only hope for peace between the feuding families is lost when an arranged marriage agreement is broken. Some days later, the groom, Karamat, returns with a brand new minibus. But a fierce competition for passengers break out when the bride, Mehrbanou, decides to do the same.

The Fifth Season

1997

When We Are All Asleep poster
4.2

Chakameh, who has lost both her husband and child in a car accident, meets a man recently released from prison. While she's under pressure from lawyers to compromise with the arrested driver, the ex-convict tells her his story of his arrest and subsequent freedom.

When We Are All Asleep

2009