Koestlers ‘Sonnenfinsternis’ über Teheran

Die Welt ist eine Bühne, die Bühne umfaß die ganze Welt, Schauprozesse hier wie da. Mal sehen wie viel Selbstironie die Zensurbehörde der Islamischen Republik besitzt. Abgesehn davon weiß man nicht recht: ist diese Meldung schwarzer Humor, suberversive Aktion oder beruflicher Selbstmord? Als mutig wird man den Antrag des Regisseurs Bahman Farmanara jedenfalls bezeichnen müssen.

Iranian director Bahman Farmanara plans to stage a play featuring Stalin’s purge trials of the 1930s, but he must gain the Culture Ministry’s permission for it. Entitled “Darkness at Noon,” the play is based on a novel of the same name by Arthur Koestler, which was published in 1940.

“Darkness at Noon” is set in the tumultuous Soviet Union of the 1930s during the treason trials and is about Nicholas Rubashov, an old guard Bolshevik who at first denies, then confesses to, crimes that he did not commit.

Farmanara plans to apply for a performing license from the Ministry of Culture Islamic Guidance soon, he told the Persian service of ISNA on Saturday.

He previously planned to stage Robert Bolt’s play “A Man for All Seasons” as his theatrical debut in Tehran this spring, but the Culture Ministry refused to grant a performing license for it.

His latest film “Earthbound,” which faced a number of cuts to receive a screening license, is currently on screen in Iranian movie theaters.