Filmfest Hamburg opens with the Iranian film „Good Bye“, directed by Mohammad Rasoulof on September 29, 2011.

“In these turbulent times we didn’t want to open Filmfest Hamburg with pure entertainment. ‘Good bye’ is both a poetic and a political film. On the one hand it gives a realistic insight into the everyday life in Tehran, affected by censorship and distrust; on the other hand it is characteristic of the extraordinary imagery of Iranian films. Since we have been showing the films of Mohammad Rasoulof at Filmfest Hamburg for years, the decision in his favour was even easier for us“, explains Festival director Albert Wiederspiel. Filmfest Hamburg already screened “Iron Island“ in 2005 and “The White Meadows“ in 2009 by Rasoulof.

His current film “Good Bye” focuses on the young lawyer Noura (Leyla Zareh) who lives in Tehran. She has been disbarred, as her clients include opponents of the regime. Her husband, a political journalist, is wanted due to his critical reporting and only gets in touch with her through the phone. When she realizes that she is pregnant, her situation becomes even more desperate. Noura decides to leave the country. Caught in the solitude of her decision, she is at complete mercy of the public authorities, resulting in house raids and harassments. Up until the end it remains uncertain whether Noura will get the visa.

“‘Good Bye’ tells the story of a woman who feels imprisoned of a situation determined by injustice and violence. I tried to show how people wanting to escape from this hopelessness are forced to resort to violence and injustice. The conditions during shooting were very complicated but a team of good assistants made the circumstances a little easier,” says Mohammad Rasoulof “I am glad that ‘Good Bye’ will be the opening film at Filmfest Hamburg and that I have the possibility to visit this beautiful port city of Hamburg once again.”

Mohammad Rasoulof was arrested in Iran at the end of last year with his colleague Jafar Panahi and was put under house arrest. Friends of the director smuggled a copy of “Good Bye” out of the country and made it possible for the film to be shown in Cannes’ section “’Un certain regard”. The German premiere will take place at Filmfest Hamburg.

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