Film | GERMANY – IRAN
by Innovative Creator Ali Samadi Ahadi The
Synopsis: The Green Wave
Green is the color of hope. Green is the color of Islam. And Green was the symbol of recognition among the supporters of presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who became the symbolic figure of the 2009 Green Revolution in Iran.
The presidential elections on June 12th, 2009, were supposed to bring about change, but contrary to all expectations, the ultra-conservative populist Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the office. The result was clear, but vote-rigging accusations were loud and justified.
However, the on-going “Where is my vote?” protest demonstrations were repeatedly worn down and broken up by brutal government militia attacks. Private persons photographed and recorded the scenes with their cell phones or cameras, and the images illustrate the excessive militia violence: people were beaten, stabbed, shot dead, arrested, and kidnapped, and some disappeared without trace. What remains are countless numbers of dead bodies, injured persons, victims of torture, and another deep wound in the hearts of the Iranians.
THE GREEN WAVE is a touching documentary- collage that illustrates the dramatic events and highlights the feelings of the people behind this revolution. Facebook reports, Twitter messages and videos posted on the internet were included in the film’s composition, and hundreds of real blog entries served as reference for
the experiences and thoughts of two fictional young students, whose stories run through the film as the main thread. The film describes their initial hope and curiosity, their desperate fear and their courage to continue the fight. These fictional storylines have been animated as a motion comic – a moving comic – to frame the deeply affecting pictures of the revolution and the interviews with prominent human rights campaigners and exiled Iranians. Ali Samadi Ahadi’s documentary is a highly contemporary chronicle of the Green Revolution and a memorial for all those who believed in and lost their lives for freedom.
The Creation of The Green Wave:
Documentarian Ali Samadi Ahadi follows the award-winning documentary LOST CHILDREN (a collaboration with Oliver Stoltz) and his affectionate comedy SALAMI ALEIKUM with his stunning film, THE GREEN WAVE. The film reflects on the dramatic events before and after the 2009 Iranian presidential elections.
Framed by animated scenes from the perspective of two fictional young students, the film covers the events by displaying the real pictures of the revolution: election meetings, demonstrations, unrest and finally the brutal militia baton and knife attacks. Ahadi’s film was produced by Oliver Stoltz and Jan Krueger (both of Dreamer Joint Venture Filmproduktion), and it
is a courageous and encouraging collage of blog quotes, real video recordings and illustrative interviews with prominent exiled Iranians and human rights activists. Together with a motion comic narrative thread, the images create a stirring plea, an appeal for awareness and actions, and a shocking yet touching chronicle of the Green Revolution in Iran.
The Full History of the Green Revolution
“For a few weeks we had the feeling of being so close to our goal as never before …” – blog entry.
The Green Revolution in Iran owes its name to the color that became the symbol of presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s campaign. Being the color of Islam, the color of hope and one of the Iranian national colors, green unfolded as an unforeseen signal and developed a symbolic power that went far beyond the mere commitment to Mousavi. It was not just about election campaigning, not even about dissatisfaction with the regime under Ahmadinejad. The symbolic color green instead signified a new collective spirit and the confidence that Iran could transcend the former government, one characterized by reprisals, oppressions and despotism. This green was the signal to set out, the symbol of courage and the euphoric sign that change was on the horizon.
Eyes in | 3
Green Wave
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