Joy of madness

(Lezate divanegi)

by Hana Makhmalbaf

Iran

Director: Hana Makhmalbaf

Script: Hana Makhmalbaf

Cinematographer: Hana Makhmalbaf

Editing: Mastaneh Mohajer

Music: Mohamad Reza Darvishi

Photographer: Maysam Makhmalbaf

Cast: Agheleh Rezaei, Agheleh Farahmand, Bibigol Asef, Sima Asef, Haji Rahmodin

Production: Makhmalbaf Film House

Distribution:
Wild Bunch
99 rue de la Verrerie
75004 Paris
France
Tel: 0033 1.53.10.42.50
Fax: 0033 1.53.10.42.69
Mail: [email protected]
www.wildbunchdistribution.com

Year: 2003

35 mm, Colour, 81 min, 
OV Farsi with English Subtitles
French Electronic Subtitles

French Premiere

Fourteen-year-old Hana follows her sister Samira Makhmalbaf in search of amateur actors for her feature film At 5 in the Afternoon. Afghan people do not easily accept to play in a film. Afghan women are scared to be seen, scared to have an identity card, scared to participate in social life, and above all scared of the Taliban. Hana shows how her sister selects those who will be the actors and actresses of her film, and how she writes the dialogues by simply talking with them.

“When I started making the film I intended to portray the real lives of four different people. Later I noticed that all four were afraid of something and each other, so the subject of my film became the fears of a particular society. Since I held back from interfering with reality, this film, according to Samira, shows a more real picture of present day Afghan society than At 5 in the Afternoon and Dad's Kandahar.”