Paint! No Matter What (Naghashi Kon!) by Maziar Bahari (Iran, 2001, 26 min., Beta SP)

Synopsis:
The traumatic experience of war and the accompanying realization that death may come at any moment convince Khosrow Hassanzadeh to make painting his top priority. Taking a job in a grocery to support his work as a painter, he gains inspiration from the day-to-day struggles of his fellow Iranians. Though his family is less than supportive and no one will exhibit his work, Khosrow persists in creating paintings in stark contrast to popular works, which represent the official version of Iranian society.
In Farsi with English subtitles.

Biography:
Maziar Bahari was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1967. In 1993, he graduated with a degree in communications from Concordia University in Montreal. He has since been active as a filmmaker and journalist. His first play A Fairly Justified Revenge opened in Copenhagen in January 2003 and his documentary film And Along Came a Spider will be broadcasted on HBO in 2004. Since 1998, Mr. Bahari has been NEWSWEEK magazine's Iran correspondent.

Festivals & Awards:
Golden Plaque, The Documentary Film Festival, Kish, Iran, 2002

Reviews:
The film not only is a testament to the intelligence of its director but also shows his honesty and willingness to understand his character. Maziar Bahari’s success in portraying Khosrow Hassanzadeh also results in a new way of documenting the 8-year war with Iraq as the most important event in Iran in the past fifty years.
- Film Magazine, Tehran