Iranian Documentary Filmed Differently After Authorities Seize Footage

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The Iranian documentary I Deserve a Lover Whose Every Rise Sets Fiery Dooms Raging Across the Skies ( 2026 ), directed by Mani Haghighi, began filming under unexpected circumstances. The initial opening sequence, which depicted“a girl standing on a foggy mountain road, searching for a phone signal,” was confiscated by authorities.

This footage was seized during a raid on the film crew's hotel room in Tabriz. The stated reason for the confiscation was the depiction of a woman without a headscarf, a violation according to authorities. As Haghighi explains in his voice-over narration,“This film wasn't meant to begin this way.”

The documentary now opens with a group of archivists in a richly decorated room, wearing masks and gloves, sifting through garbage bags containing photo albums, broken pottery, and other debris-caked artifacts of unknown origin. The film centers on Iranian artist Nasser Bakhshi and his wife, Roghayeh Najdi, who have amassed a substantial archive of cultural history, spanning from the pre-Islamic era through the Iranian Revolution to the present day, all housed in their home.

Bakhshi and Najdi are described as charismatic, stylish, and deeply in love. Their frequent purchases are well-known among the Persian rug dealers interviewed by Haghighi. When asked by Haghighi if he is a hoarder, Bakhshi responded,“I collect consciously, methodically, and logically... I'm aware of my instinct.”

Source: Hyperallergic

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