An Iranian Working in the Czech Republic, Kaveh Daneshmand Has Crafted a Film of Uncommon Assurance and Unnerving Portent
His debut feature, ‘Endless Summer Syndrome,’ wouldn’t pass muster with Iranian authorities, and given its provocations — about family, parenthood, love, and betrayal — it’s a wonder anyone let him get away with it.
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For a film that one observer characterized as “so, so French,” “Endless Summer Syndrome” has a circuitous provenance — particularly when considering its director, Kaveh Daneshmand.
Born at Karaj, an Iranian city about a 45-minute drive outside of Tehran, Mr. Daneshmand now calls home the “beautiful city” of Prague, having arrived in the Czech Republic at age 28. When asked by a reporter at Radio Prague International why he doesn’t return to Iran — the country has, you know, a reputation as an important cinematic center — Mr. Daneshmand responded with kid gloves: Working in his homeland is a dream, sure, but Iran is “a very problematic place.”
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