Film 'Dhamaal 4': A treasure hunt with elements of comedy and absurdity

The Homa Theatre in Tehran plans to present the comedy production 'Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike,' written by Christopher Durang, over the course of a month starting next week.

Production Details and Cast

Ali Firouzi will direct the 75-minute play. The cast includes Ali Afshar, Shiva Shiva Shohadaei, Fereshteh Rafiei, Majid Ezzati, Fatemeh Yousefzadeh, and Hiva Zamani.

Plot and Theme

The story focuses on the relationships between three single middle-aged siblings, two of whom live together (Vanya and Sonya). The third sister, Masha, visits and supports them. They discuss their lives and love, argue, and Masha threatens to sell the house.

This lively comedy combines family drama with Chekhovian absurdity. When movie star Masha returns to her childhood home with her friend Spike, she disrupts the quiet life of her eccentric brother Vanya and adoptive sister Sonya. As a result, chaos erupts in this witty, laugh-inducing play about family dysfunction, existential midlife anxiety, and unexpected joys of life.

Inspiration and Recognition

The play is a comedic masterpiece filled with unusual characters, unplanned romantic storylines, and amusing twists, while paying homage to Chekhov's work. Some elements of the show were borrowed from Anton Chekhov's works, including the names of some characters, the kinship between the brothers and sisters, the setting in a country house (in Bucks County, Pennsylvania) with remnants of an orchard, as well as the staging of an 'avant-garde' play by one of the main characters. The play also touches upon themes of old versus new generations, real versus perceived identity, the difficulties of a woman growing up after career success that seems to be ending, the hopes and recklessness of youth, intra-family rivalries, and the possible loss of the ancestral home.

Critics highly praised the original play, which premiered in New Jersey in 2012. It was called a humorous adaptation of Chekhovian themes that did not require prior knowledge of his work. The original Broadway version was a commercial success, recouping its $2.75 million investment in less than four months. In 2013, it received a Tony Award for Best Play and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play, among other accolades.

About the Playwright

Christopher Durang (1949–2024) was an American playwright known for his outrageous and often absurd comedies. His works were particularly popular in the 1980s, although his career experienced a second revival in the late 1990s.

Dates and Venue

The production will begin on July 29th at the Homa Theatre, located at Ziba Dad-End, Nofel Loshato St., Hafez St.

The latest feature film by Iranian director Mohsen Gharaei, titled 'Falling House,' will have its world premiere in the Horizons section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, which runs from September 2 to 12.

Previous Works by the Director

'Falling House' is a continuation of the 2017 film 'Blockade.' This drama depicted contemporary Iranian society and won the Best Film award in Busan before being screened in Rotterdam and Munich, according to Honaronline.

Film Plot

The story revolves around a modest family living on the outskirts of Tehran whose housing is threatened with demolition as part of a large-scale redevelopment project. While Rashid, the father and prison guard, is accused of corruption, he discovers that his eldest daughter, Ensi, is secretly planning to leave Iran. As the bulldozers approach, the tension within the family begins to escalate.

Creators and Technical Aspects

The screenplay for 'Falling House' was written by Gharaei in collaboration with Amir Mohammad Abdi. The film stars Lalleh Marzban, Rima Raminfar, Farhad Aslani, and Elena Hakbaz. The musical score was provided by the highly acclaimed composer Max Richter (known for his work on 'Hamnet'), while editing was handled by Evelyn Rack ('Sound of Falling') and Emad Hodabash; the sound design was provided by Ansgar Freireich, who received an Oscar nomination for his work on 'Of Fathers and Sons.'

Production and Support

The film is produced by Milad Hosravi for Seven Springs Pictures. Among the producers are Oscar winner Odessa Rey from RaeFilm Studios ('The Voice of Hind Rajab'), as well as Daya Fernandez, Amuri Nolasco, and Alois Rubenbauer from 3SIX9 Studios. Co-production is carried out by Basis Berlin Filmproduktion ('Of Fathers and Sons') and Zentropa Germany ('King’s Land'), with Ansgar Kilik, who received an Oscar nomination for 'Babel' and 'The Hunger Games,' serving as executive producer.

Message and Sales

Milad Hosravi stated that 'the film carries a warning that we have felt for many years.' He added that the idea arose long ago, but today the picture seems 'painfully prophetic,' reflecting the suffering of ordinary people facing fear and uncertainty caused by the ongoing war. US rights are handled by CAA Media Finance, and international sales of 'Falling House' are represented by Paradise City Sales. Jane Loriotti, a sales representative for Paradise City Sales, noted that Mohsen Gharaei created 'a compelling, story-driven narrative that combines a true sense of urgency with surprisingly rich and multilayered characters.' She also emphasized that the company was impressed by 'the film's escalating tension, its emotional depth, and the outstanding performances, especially among the female cast.'

The decision to include the West Bank Site and the Lebanese castles on the World Heritage list was made on Friday during a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) held in South Korea. This deliberation occurred days after the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the committee to reject the classification proposals for Sebastia, a small town in the West Bank, and the Lebanese castles.

Decision in Busan

During the meeting in Busan, UNESCO committee members opted to register Sebastia and the five castles in the Mount Amal area on both the World Heritage list and the World Heritage in Danger list. This choice was made after analyzing the urgent applications, considering the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

About Sebastia

Sebastia, located northwest of Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is recognized by scholars as ancient Samaria, which served as the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel. Archaeological findings in the region cover periods from the Iron Age through the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras. The Palestinian delegation first submitted the application for Sebastia to UNESCO in 2012, arguing that World Heritage status would be crucial for the site's preservation.

UNESCO justified its concern by stating that 'the integrity of the site is currently threatened by an expropriation project aimed at dividing the property and creating the 'Samaria' National Park.' Furthermore, the organization noted that due to threats related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and development pressures, the site's integrity could be considered extremely vulnerable.

The Mount Amal Castles

The five castles in the Mount Amal region are valued for their rich architectural heritage, reflecting diverse cultural influences. Among the designated sites is the Beaufort Castle, built by the Crusaders and also known as Al-Shaqif, which was taken by Israeli forces in May. UNESCO explained that the 'constituent elements' of these 12th-century fortifications 'have suffered damage' and face 'threats serious enough to warrant recourse to an emergency procedure.'

Statements and Controversies

Adel Naim Daoud Atieh, a member of the Palestinian delegation to UNESCO, stated that the World Heritage designation serves as recognition of the persistence of Sebastia's residents, who have managed to protect this notable place for generations, despite occupation, restrictions, and repeated attempts to separate them from their heritage.

In contrast, Israel withdrew from UNESCO in 2019, alleging the organization's bias against the country and the minimization of its historical ties to the Holy Land. A representative of the Israeli delegation, present in Busan as an observer, cited the Associated Press (AP) to say that it was 'a pity that politicization had ruined UNESCO and led to the ridicule of history.'

In a note issued on Tuesday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the Palestinian delegation of conducting a 'hostile and unilateral campaign' at UNESCO by falsely presenting Sebastia as an emergency area, characterizing this action as a political maneuver to 'erase the deep and well-documented Jewish and Christian history of the site.' The ministry also opposed the inclusion of the Beaufort Castle on the list, within the application covering the five Mount Amal castles.

Israel alleged that Hezbollah, with Iranian support, converted the castle into a military base, building tunnels beneath it and firing rockets from the area, accusing UNESCO of ignoring such events. When questioned about these Israeli accusations, UNESCO informed the Associated Press that all applications are evaluated following the same criteria, procedures, and technical requirements, and that the organization does not take sides in political disputes.