05/08/2024
Have you ever had a hobby that consumed you, if only for a short time? If it lasts, it becomes a passion, and after that a life calling. Such is the case of Ehsan Khoshbakht, who began making his own projectors and films as a child growing up in Iran.
He directed Celluloid Underground, screened at DokuFest under the special strand Ode to Celluloid: Films on Film. This film is a beautiful, heartfelt creation and homage to film itself, and the power of storytelling.
After the Iranian revolution in 1979, Ehsan’s love of film was sent underground, and his mission in life became to preserve and protect films, especially Iranian films, from destruction. A keeper of the flame, a protector, was born.
Celluloid Underground is a tour de force, masterfully blending both the story of Ehsan’s love for film and his battle against censorship from authorities. In this documentary, we meet Ahmad Jorghanian, who lives in Tehran, and who is protecting thousands of films in cannisters from destruction.
Ehsan finally meets the elusive Ahmad, and they recognize they are but two sides of the same coin. The filmmaker and his protagonist are each living out their mission in life which is the preservation and celebration of movies.
The film was edited by Niyaz Saghari, and she and Adam Dawtrey, the producer were on hand and fielded questions from our DokuFest audience after the screening. She described Ehsan as a man obviously talented, and driven, but humble and reserved, reluctant to appear before his audiences.
Niyaz said “I worked with the Ehsan over the course of about a year to edit this documentary into 81 minutes. We had a lot of clips to work with. We would go back and forth, and I would convince him of parts that I thought should remain in the movie, and why, but it was a definite give and take all the way.”
The result is a powerful punch about the importance of film, and how by protecting film we are also protecting freedom of expression itself. Documentaries like this are an inspiration to fellow filmmakers and film lovers, and beneficial to the watchers.
At the opening of DokuFest, we heard from Charlie Chaplin, who wrote the timeless soliloquy at the end of The Great Dictator. He said “You, the people have the power… to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.” Ehsan has obviously taken this to heart, and been moved to create, and protect films, because of the happiness and relief that movies bring to people.
Thank you, Ehsan and his team of collaborators for giving us this film, a homage to film itself, and a story of determination. DokuFest extends an open invitation to you Ehsan, join us here in Prizren in person next year. Put aside your humility, we would like to meet you. Share your love of film with us, and allow it to be captured and felt firsthand by DokuFest and our audiences. Together we will try to keep this life free and beautiful, like Charlie said in the movies.
By: Scott Hoy
Photo: Furkan Çelik
