Bassidji

The on-camera death of young student NedaAgha-Soltan during the 2009 protests against theIranian elections gave an instantly reconcilablehuman face to the victims of the country's ironfistmilitary theocracy. Two years previous, in2007, director Mehran Tamadon left his homein France and returned to his native country toexplore the mindset of the group that would cometo be responsible for Neda's death - the militiaknown as the Bassidji.

Having won its place in society during the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980's, the Bassidji is a constantmilitary presence in the country's public spaces.Tamadon was granted unprecedented access totheir world, delving into the beliefs of the group'smembers and probing issues of martyrdom, posttraumaticstress and desperation. Refusing tomask his liberal views, Tamadon is still encouragedby the Bassidji members to ask questions abouttheir religious and political convictions.

BASSID JI is a fascinating dissection of thepower of dialogue and how much or little we arewilling to compromise our own opinion in orderto understand our opponent.

Cast
Nader Malek-Kandi, Mohammad Pourkarim: Producer
Catherine Dussart CDP (France); Franck Hulliard INTERLAND (France); Elena Tatti and Thierry Spicher: Script
Mehran TAMADON and Laetitia LEMERLE: Cinematography
Majid Gorjian: Spoken language
Farsi: Subtitle
English