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The First Iranian Movie: Abi and Rabi

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                                                            (Abi & Rabi, 1930) The introduction of cinema in Iran would begin in 1905, when the first theatre house was opened in Tehran. Abi and Rabi is a 1930 Iranian silent comedy film directed by Ovanes Ohanian. The film stars Ohanian, Mohammad Khan Zarrabi, Gholamali Khan Sohrabi Fard, Mohammad Ali Ghotbi and Amir Arjmand. The story follows a comedy duo, one lanky and one stout, performing slap-stick and physical comedy. Much like American cinema with Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy, the beginning's of Iranian cinema can be found in black and white silent films, and the comedy of bodily performance. 
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The Iranian Cinema Project & Our Mission

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Hello to all My name is Yusof Nazari and I'm the founder of the Iranian Cinema Project, or the ICP for short. The ICP is a foundation and website dedicated to preserving Iranian Cinema and also to sharing it with the world. Though it might seem antithetical, Iranian films are not often consumed in the country itself. Much of Iranian cinema is deeply transgressive, focusing on issues in Iranian society that are often censored in the artistic and political forums of the country, and it is because of this transgressive nature that many Iranian filmmakers work in clandestine ways to create their films.  Oftentimes, filmmakers flee the country for fear of retribution, while others stay to face the consequences of making their art in such a dangerous environment. It is because of these dangers that Iranian films are often screened in International film festivals and seen by western audiences, celebrated by award shows like the Oscars and festivals like Sundance. In fact, many film c...
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