The documentary Our Summer in Tehran (check local listings) follows Jewish American filmmaker Justine Shapiro and her 6-year-old son Mateo as they travel to Iran for the first time.  They establish friendships with unlikely partners and discover how, despite hardships, deep and lasting bonds can transcend cultural differences.

Why did you decide to visit Iran with your son Mateo?

The film begins with this line in voice over: “I want to meet Iranian mothers in their homes before our sons meet on the battlefield.” I was in pre-production for this film in 2006 and the shoot was in 2007, at a time when there was a great deal of media coverage around the possibility that Iran would be the next country in line for war. So I felt some urgency about going there and showing a human side of Iran, before a war began.

This film is very much about the relationships between families. I didn’t want to go to Iran as a journalist or as a single woman or as a travel host. I wanted the Iranian families to regard me as one of them: just another tired mom who, like them, strives to balance motherhood with work. Mateo’s sweet and curious nature opened doors and hearts. I was so glad that he and I had this experience together.

Can you describe the most surprising experience you had while in Tehran?

SURPRISE NUMBER 1: That my shoot came to a halt just seven weeks into it. The Intelligence Ministry gave us 48 hours to leave Iran. And then, at the airport, the Intelligence Ministry confiscated ALL my material (75 hours of tapes)! Once I returned home, I spent four months calling the various ministries trying to convince them to release the tapes.

Finally, Iran relented, with huge caveats: I could get back the footage but I’d have to come to Iran and edit the film there. So I flew to Iran three times in 2008 to edit Our Summer in Tehran, leaving Mateo behind. Each time I met with an official of the Intelligence Ministry. Finally at the end of the third trip this official gave me permission to bring home all my tapes and hard drives. And the edit began again!

SURPRISE NUMBER 2: The closest friendship I formed was with a devout Muslim — a family’s matriarch, Marjan Torabi, whose husband worked for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. I didn’t reveal my Jewish heritage to her until the two of us had formed a bond.  Marjan wanted to take me inside the most holy shrine in Iran and I wasn’t sure if Jews could enter. I felt that she should know that I was Jewish before taking me inside. So I told her, on camera, while she was buying a chador for me. You have to wear a chador to enter this shrine. I was nervous. But she was, and is, very accepting.  She said to me “We are both people of the book.”  We email each other every few weeks.

What insight from your trip do you most hope your son will take away and carry into adulthood?

At the end of the film I tell Mateo, “I hope that you will continue to move through this world, as you did in Iran, in wonder rather than in fear.” “Wonder” is being able to imagine possibilities. I think it’s helpful for young people to have experiences that inspire curiosity and wonder, and where they can get at some level that they are part of a much bigger world.

We have maps all over our house — even our table mats are maps. Mateo’s dad lives in Mexico City and we’ve spent a lot of time there. I think that in part his sense of wonder is also an appreciation of the differences and a sense that the world is not fair. Why do some people live in houses and others live in cardboard boxes? So “wonder” is not necessarily all smiles and joy, it can also awe at the mystery of injustice. We are all on this planet together, and yet we are leading our lives amidst wildly divergent circumstances.

The screenings brought awareness about the importance of organ donation in the United States. But what is the organ market like in other countries?

This month, check out the ITVS International film IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE, which follows young Iranians through the organ trade process, in the only country in the world where kidney trading is legal.

Download IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE on iTunes >>

SEEDS OF SUMMER: At an army base in the heart of Israel’s southern desert, two young female military recruits make the transformation from fragile, vulnerable young girls to confident soldiers and fierce fighters.

Download SEEDS OF SUMMER >>

IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE: An inside look at the growing organ industry in Iran where every 10 minutes, a young person wishing to sell his or her kidney appears at the entrance of a kidney referral agency.

Download IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE >>

IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE, the first of many ITVS International films launching on iTunes.

Do you enjoy downloading your favorite films online? Check out IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE, the first of many ITVS International shows launching on the iTunes Movie Store, where documentary film fans can now rent or buy the movie at their convenience.

Against the backdrop of an official kidney referral agency, IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE follows young Iranians through the organ trade process: from their first encounter to surgery and kidney removal.

Watch IRANIAN KIDNEY BARGAIN SALE on iTunes >>

Filmmaker Marjan Tehrani and her brother Alex Tehrani discuss the Independent Lens broadcast of ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING.
Listen to the interview >>

“Karen Skloss says she never meant to tell her own story when she started making her new documentary, SUNSHINE, which will have its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival. … Skloss received grants to make SUNSHINE from the Independent Television Service and KUHT-TV in Houston.”
Read more >>

Lois Vossen, vice president and Independent Lens series producer, discusses ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING. Watch the clip below:

Set against the turbulent relationship between the United States and Iran, Iranian-American filmmaker Marjan Tehrani captures the struggle and excitement of her brother Alex and his bride Heather as they plan a Persian Islamic wedding in Iran. But when Alex’s Iranian-born parents and Heather’s conservative American father meet for the first time, cultures clash and test the couple to their limits.

Modern Iranian Online Magazine: “In ARUSI: PERSIAN WEDDING, the brilliant indie-filmmaker gives people outside of Iran a close and insightful look into the country and its people.”

Check out the trailer below:

When Heather’s parents meet Alex’s Dad and stepmother over dinner, their friendly conversation quickly escalates into a heated debate about politics and international diplomacy. Check out the clip below from tonight’s broadcast.

Set against the turbulent relationship between the United States and Iran, Iranian-American filmmaker Marjan Tehrani captures the struggle and excitement of her brother Alex and his bride Heather as they plan a Persian Islamic wedding in Iran. But when Alex’s Iranian-born parents and Heather’s conservative American father meet for the first time, cultures clash and test the couple to their limits.

From Morocco’s noisy precessions to Bali’s timeless beauty, view colorful images of ethnic weddings, inspired by ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING, in this month’s Your Lens Flickr Group.

View the slide show and add your own images >>

A full house at the Chicago Cultural Center for the Community Cinema Screening of ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING.

It was a full house at the Chicago Cultural Center this past weekend at the Community Cinema screening of ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING, co-presented by Pasfarda Arts & Cultural Exchange, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and WTTW Channel 11.

Set against the turbulent relationship between the United States and Iran, Iranian-American filmmaker Marjan Tehrani captures the struggle and excitement of her brother Alex and his bride Heather as they plan a Persian Islamic wedding in Iran.

Many of the people in attendance were Iranian-Americans and very eager to discuss the various cross-cultural issues in the film with other Americans and share stories of their unique and common experiences.

It was truly amazing to see the film with an audience! One scene that particularly stuck out was when the parents of the bride and groom meet for the first time and the conversation turns towards politics. When Alex and Marjan’s father attempts to diffuse the tension by offering more food and wine, the audience erupted with laugher. The film’s approach of weaving tension and humor, travel footage with history and photojournalism into the documentary made it easy for anyone to understand the complex story and culture of Iran.

The panel discussion that followed was both cathartic and informative. Panelists included filmmaker Mehrnaz Saeed-Vafa, who taught in Tehran prior to moving to the United States in 1983; graduate student Aria Moazzen, who grew up in the United States and neither he nor his family have returned to Iran since leaving; University of Illinois at Chicago professor Norma Moruzzi, who is also an “arus” (bride), having married an Iranian and has spent time in Iran.

The panelists cleared up some of the misconceptions some Americans have about life in Iran. One attendee expressed surprise to see so many women in the film not wearing headscarves. Professor Moruzzi, who has written extensively about the topic, explained the wide variety of viewpoints and religious practice that coexist peacefully in Iran.

The event ended with many audience members wanting to continue the conversation. It was at least another hour of excited discussion in the reception area before the Cultural Center staff could turn out the lights!

Afterwards, I had a chance to speak with Shermin Kruse, co-founder and vice president of Pasfarda Arts & Culture Exchange, about her experience as an Iranian-American and what resonated with her about the film. Check out the video below.

- Naomi Walker, ITVS Regional Outreach Coordinator, Chicago

A crowd gathers for a screening of ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING at the San Francisco Public Library.

Filmmaker Marjan Tehrani with her father and stepmother, who both appear in her film.

Last night I had the opportunity to show my film ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING in San Francisco. The film chronicles my brother Alex’s return to Iran with his American wife Heather to have a traditional Persian wedding.

This was the first Community Cinema screening that I attended and it was incredible to return to my hometown for this experience. The room was packed with many familiar faces but most notably, an overwhelming amount of Iranian-Americans in attendance. Though the film has many universal themes––such as being of mixed identity or in a multi-cultural marriage––it was amazing to see the Iranian-American crowd take in the small nuances of the film that others missed when the film screened in other art house venues around the country.

I also had the unique experience of seeing the film with some of my family in the audience––my father and stepmother were both there and brought along other extended family members. Although they have seen the film, it was the first time that I have screened it with them amongst an audience. For me, this was an interesting experience because not only is this film really personal on many levels, but there is a very tense scene where Heather’s father and his wife meet my father and his wife for the first time. The cordial dinner meeting quickly turns from polite to not so polite as the focus of the conversation shifts to Iran/U.S. past and current politics. This is one of the most important scenes of the film for me that clearly shows the tensions that exist between Americans and Iranians today and allowed me to weave archival history into the film in a seamless manner. However, it was quite an experience to be in the room with my family and others while this was playing! The audience was very much a part of this intimate scene as they laughed and verbally let out signs of discomfort.

All in all, last night was a really special experience for me. After the last several years of putting this film together, I really felt like people in the audience got the subtle nuances that I was hoping to get across about being of mixed identity and carrying the weight of two countries in political turmoil. Iranians seemed to appreciate being able to connect with parts of Iran that they fondly remember and Americans seemed to appreciate being invited along on this intimate journey with Alex and Heather to experience Iran through their own eyes. My hope is that people left the screening with a slightly different perspective of Iran than they walked in with and that this will contribute to paving the way for improved relations between Iran and the United States.

-Marjan Tehrani, filmmaker of ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING, premiering Tuesday, March 17 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings)

Check out upcoming Community Cinema events in your area >>