Paris – Abbas Kiarostami, great director, gold palm in 1997 in Cannes – L’Express

Kiarostami had left Tehran last week for treatment in France, told the ISNA Iranian news agency, adding that his death was confirmed by the House of Cinema in Iran.

Born June 22, 1940 in Tehran, the filmmaker is primarily interested in drawing and is studying at the Fine Arts while minting a graphic designer and director of commercials. He achieved notoriety by its small commercials and generics movies.

In 1971 released his first work, a short film, “ Bread and street .” Soon, with “ The passenger “, in 1974, established itself as a pioneer of “ realistic cinema “, and his first major film, in 1977, to suicide theme ( “ the “).

Deciding to stay in his country after the 1979 revolution, compelled, like his colleagues to abides-never a woman in public without a headscarf notamment- he was entrusted with the management of the Institute Kanun of cinema, created under the Shah, but has continued under the new regime.

– still modest –

But it seeks to assert some independence and realizes in 1987 “ Where is the Friend’s Home ” very popular abroad. During the 90s, Kiarostami will emerge as a world-famous filmmaker with his trilogy “ Koker “, especially the first ( “ And life goes “) which deals under different aspects of the earthquake that befell the northwest of Iran in 1990.

gender is the “ black realism ” love for detail, always modest with the intention to involve the maximum the common people. His films, which he wants to make reflection instruments almost always shot in real places and not in the studio, combine the fable, the paper and plastic beauty.

He has his style, hardworking and stubborn, and a very special appearance with its smoked glass glasses.

The rewards come with the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1997 for “ The Taste of Cherry “, the desire to live and the fragility of a man of 50 years, which will cause him trouble in Iran because Catherine Deneuve made her a kiss in presenting the award, which caused the fury of conservatives.

In 1999, “ The Wind Will Carry Us “, the dignity in work and gender equality, won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival. In the 2000s, Kiarostami, less verbose, realizes -in 2001- “ ABC Africa ” on Ugandan children.

In one of his last works, output in 2012, “ Like someone in love ” movie “ without beginning or end ” in his words, it captures a snapshot of the lives of three of Tokyo, a student-prostitute, his old client and his jealous lover.

In his previous film, “ Certified Copy “, in which the French Juliette Binoche had obtained in 2010 the Best Actress award at the Cannes Festival, Iranian s’ was offered an Italian incursion.