An Operatic Surprise!

I was so moved by the the video my friend had emailed me that I had to share it with you.

"On Saturday, April 24th, 2010, over 30 members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia chorus along with principal cast members from the upcoming production
of La Traviata converged on the Reading Terminal Market Italian Festival.

Wearing street clothes and blending in with the crowd, the artists swung
into action after the first orchestral strains of the famed "Brindisi" were
piped through the market, giving a rousing, surprise performance for
hundreds of delighted onlookers who were there to enjoy the Italian
delicacies and the everyday treats that the Reading Terminal Market has to
offer. The four-minute piece won a thunderous ovation that included both
laughter and tears from the audience . . . . "

My blog @ Iranian.com

Ida Saki Received Presidential Scholar Award

Ida Saki was the Iranian of the Day a couple of weeks ago. The nation was mesmerized by her performance on a televised dance competition

Ida–along with nineteen other National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts’ (NFAA) YoungArts finalists–was named a U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts award recipient a few weeks ago!She has decided to withdraw from "So You Think Yoiu Can Dance" competitions.


My Blog @ Iranian.com

In Celebration of Dad's Life

Today is the 24th Anniversary of my father’s passing and in celebration of his life, I share this video with you in which Anthony Quinn celebrates his life by a dance.

My father loved to dance and was usually the first on the dance floor at any celebration. He shared that love with my mother who continues to go dancing twice a week and planted the seed in my brother and I and it seems he has passed it on to his daughter, Naomi who has been attending dance classes since she was just 2 years old.

So here is to you dad with all my love, Your Nahzi
My Blog at Iranian.com

Leo arrived on June 11, 2010

Leo Ilghami, son of Okhtay and Luda is here...

Two tiny feet, That wave in the air...
Two tiny hands, That tug at your hair...
And an adorable little face, A bundle of joy to love and embrace.

A Special Screening of "For Neda"

My friend, Shohreh Aghdashloo, had graciously invited me to attend a special screening of HBO's documentary, "For Neda". I had already seen the documentary but I went to watch it with people and to see and experience THEIR reaction.

The screening was followed by a panel which included the narrator: Shohreh Aghdashloo, the director of "For Neda", Anthony Thomas and a young man who sat next to him. By the time the session was over, it was obvious that beside Neda, in fact, he was THE star of the evening. He was Austin Heap. The 25 year old IT consultant who took it up on himself to keep the flow of information open during those sensitive weeks of last summer following the election in Iran.

When the government of Iran blocked Facebook and/or internet, he took various technical steps to provide bypasses to the people in Iran who needed to access the internet to get the news and the footage out of the country. When after a few days the government blocked that as well, Austin designed a system that enabled the people in Iran to keep in contact with the rest of the world which he explains in detail in the movie.

Austin said: "... Freedom is something you have to fight for... The more brutal they (the government) got the more determined I became to not give them the power to silence the people...... Here I go being from a 24 year old, spending my time playing video games and hanging out with my friends to all of a sudden having to maintain open communications for the entire country."

All panelists were warmly received by the audience and were applauded again and again but it was Austin that truly moved everyone with the passionate comments he made: "I have been asked why did you do it. You are not Iranian. I told them, what difference does it make."

To watch the entire documentary click here.

My blog at
Iranian.com

Who But A Mother Can Think This Way?!

It has been almost a year since Sohrab and many others were killed. This is the video I posted to my page on Facebook back then and I am rebroadcasting it in honor of what his mother, Ms. Fahimi, has just said in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. Click on the following post to see the video:

Ahay to keh beh khaabi, Ameegh o sard rafti
too ghalba SABZ moondi, Agar cheh zard rafti....

Shab o rooz peesh-e mani, To hanooz pish-e mani
To hanooz too sofrey-e, Del-e darvish-e mani...
To hanooz pish-e mani
To hanooz pish-e mani


Source: International Campaign For Human Rights In Iran
"Ameneh Khatoon (Parvin) Fahimi is the mother of Sohrab Arabi, a young protester who was murdered in the aftermath of last year’s disputed presidential elections. In an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, she said that she would forgive the blood of her son on the condition of the release of all political prisoners.

Referring to the implicit threats from security officials, Fahimi said: “The sorrow of losing Sohrab, and likes of Sohrab, is dreadful and unforgettable. I thank all the young people who have courageously stood up for the likes of Sohrab so they would not be forgotten in time. While the security forces were at my home [recently], cautioning me not to be “seduced” to come out of my house to memorialize my dear son on the anniversary of his martyrdom, or to give speeches on the occasion, I tell them I would forgive the murderers of my son on the unconditional release of political prisoners.”

She said, “I lost Sohrab for the crime of freedom, love, and peace. Let remain and live the rest of the children of this land.”

She concluded her interview with a resolute poem.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has also learned that in the last few weeks families of some of those who were killed after the elections were threatened not to conduct any public ceremonies for the anniversary of their dead family members. "

My other Blog at: Iranian.com

"I Am Alive When I Am Making Movies"

I just watched the video of the interview with Jafar Panahi and couldn't wait to share it with you.

My other blog at:
Iranian.com

Pain, Anger, Sadness And Frustration Delivered Through Dance

Ida Saki is an 18 year old Iranian American whose recent performance on a dance competition was breathtaking.

The choreography of a part of Ida's dance reminded me of a scene in the movie, "White Nights" in which Misha (Michael Baryshnikov) is dancing on a bare stage in an empty theater for his old girl friend (played by Helen Mirren) where he was pouring his heart out to her via dance and movement.

Just watch both videos and free your feelings and emotions and let the music and their dances take over and move you.
My Blog @ Iranian.Com

"For Neda"

FOR NEDA is a documentary film written, directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Antony Thomas.
Iranian journalist Saeed Kamali Dehghan worked secretly inside Iran to locate and film interviews with Neda's family for the first time, while Thomas interviewed current exiles, including a friend of hers from her university days and Arash Hejazi, the doctor who was at Neda's side when she was shot and who held her as she died. FOR NEDA also includes videos, photos, private diaries and letters supplied by her family.
The film is narrated in English by Oscar Nominee, Shohreh Aghdashloo and will be aired on HBO on June 14th
FOR NEDA is the story of Neda Agha Soltan whose tragic death on June 20th, 2009 came to symbolize for many the struggle in Iran.

The documentary in full length

It only SEEMS to be "ALL about sex"!

I must admit I didn't know what Shortbus was all about. I was going through the DVDs at the library a few days ago and the picture caught my attention. The quote on the cover lured me in: "An exhilarating trip. An erotic hot button of a movie." That was it. That did it. I didn't need to know any more!
Fast forward to this evening...
It may at times seemed like a compiled shots of animalistic lust but in fact there was no five consecutive minutes that went by that the movie did not deal with deep human emotions and psychology of mankind.
Don't take my word for it, "...unquestionably the most sexually graphic American Narrative feature ever made...", "It is not about sex but about sexuality", "...not about scoring but about living..." and "Brims with so much fun and heartbreak" are but just a few of the reviews I read about it afterwards.
The writer/director, John Cameron Mitchell, casually takes the audience through about 10 people's lives, ending the whole shabang with a Fellini-like carnival.
I warn you it is quite sexual and graphic but believe me it only SEEMS that way!