Refocus: the Films of Rakhshan Banietemad

Offers the first English language book on the films and the career of Iranian director Rakhshan Banietemad Devotes specific attention to Banietemad's long career in documentary filmmaking, which has been neglected in much of the scholarly works thus far Includes chapters by some of the most prominent scholars of Iranian cinema as well as younger scholars with fresh points of view Situates Banietemad among world auteurs while still looking at her works within the Iranian context Includes an in-depth interview with the director Rakhshan Banietemad is one of the first female film directors in Iran. This book, the first English language study of her films and career, Iranian director Rakhshan Banietemad contains chapters by some of the most prominent scholars of Iranian cinema, as well as younger scholars with fresh points of view. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective, the book devotes special attention to Banietemad's understudied documentaries and films, including Under the Skin of the City (2000) and Tales (2014), while offering new perspectives on well-known works such as The Blue Veiled (1994) and The May Lady (1997). Focusing on questions of aesthetics and poetics, social realism, gender dynamics and the 'afterimages' and 'counter-memories' of revolution and war, the book also includes an in depth interview with Banietemad herself.