Page 82 - Metropolis Megazine No.120 International

ZAR AMIR EBRAHIMI

the idea. In theory, she genuinely smart to say, I wrote the book; know that I spoke a lot of English
loved the idea. I said, Okay. She you do the movie. She was not because I was teaching English?”
saw my films. She saw, I think, really interfering. Marjorie, it was And I said, Yes, but the film has to
«Lemon Tree» and «The Syrian a normal relationship between be really in Farsi, with a little bit
Bride». I said, Okay, so if we want the writer and the director. I of English, so it looks authentic.
to be serious, maybe I should believe Azar expressed a kind And then we talked about casting,
come to America, and we talk. sentiment to me after reading the and she said, I know Angelina
She said, Yes. first or second draft. She wrote a Jolie. I said, Yes, no problem.
single sentence: “Thank you for But I think from the beginning,
Every day I went. I met her for understanding my book.” "Thank Golshifteh, because she's very
two or three days. We talked you for understanding my book," good and because I think she has,
about it. I told her about my was the only thing she wrote to from all the Iranian actors that
vision, and I came with the me. are outside of Iran, she's really
rights. Then we had to decide like this... I don't want to say
who can write it because I felt Golshifteh Farahani is queen because it makes her too
that I needed a woman, and not sublime; it's not the first time old, princess. She was a natural
necessarily an Iranian, because she's worked with you. Did choice. When we were writing, I
the book is already Iranian you write the part with her in was really thinking about her all
enough, so I needed maybe mind? the time. But I have to tell you
somebody with an American Eran Riklis: I knew from the that she was afraid. She left Iran,
touch. I found Marjorie [David] beginning it would be her. I I think, in 2008 or '09. She had
through a mutual friend. I have a humorous story to share never made a film in Farsi before,
travelled to America once more, with you. When I met Azar in not even once. This was her first
and we began working together. Washington and we talked about time returning to speaking Farsi.
I think with both, Azar was very casting, she said to me, “You She told me she was a little bit

82 METROPOLIS JULY 2025