Made in 1999, but you speak such good English is a half hour documentary, which explores different aspects of the first generation Iranian immigrant experience from the insider's perspective.

 

The film focuses on the younger generation, who has very few memories of their country, and yet feels an undeniable pull towards identifying themselves as Iranians. The film is a fast paced and above all very entertaining look at the issues of ethnicity and separation told from the point of view of four dynamic and funny characters, including the stand-up comic, Omid Djalili.

 

But you speak such good English is the first documentary of this kind to focus on the Iranian population in London. The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 resulted in approximately 2 million Iranians leaving the country, of which approximately 40,000 have settled in the UK. This film offers an important opportunity to show another side to a community whose people are only ever portrayed by the media in a one dimensional way.

 

The film uses the tool of comedy to convey the more serious aspects of the immigrant experience in an accessible and palatable way. With lyrical sequences of dream-like Super 8 and music coupled with often touching interview material, the film offers an eye-opening look at a very private community.

 

 

TECHNICAL

Duration: 00:25:00

Language: English

Country of Production: UK

Production Format: DVCPro50

Viewing Copy: DVD/VHS Pal

Screening/Exhibition Format: DigiBeta Pal

Picture: Colour

 

 

Screenings & Broadcasts

St John's International Women's Film & Video Festival, Newfoundland, CANADA

August 1999

Bite The Mango Film Festival, Bradford, UK

August 1999

International Exile Film Festival, Stockholm, SWEDEN

September 1999

Sheffield International Documentary Festival, UK

October 1999

"Association des Chercheurs Iraniens" Conference, University of London, UK

February 2000

Omen in the Director's Chair, Chicago, USA

March 2000

3rd Biennial SIS Film Festival, Washington D.C., USA

May 2000

Open Tent, 2nd Annual Middle East Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA

May 2000

1st Vancouver Iranian Film & Video Festival, Vancouver, CANADA - Winner of Festival Director's Merit Award

September 2000

Kinofilm 2000 Film Festival, Manchester, UK

October 2000

17th Annual MESA FilmFest, Orlando, USA

November 2000

Unveiled Lives: Women in Iranian Cinema, Barbican Centre, London, UK

May 2001

 

Produced by: 30 Bird Productions

Directed by: Parisa Taghizadeh and Marjan Safinia

Executive Producers: Mehrdad Seyf and Claire Summerfield

Camera: Maryam Seyf/Sebastian Sharples/Amir Soheylee

Lighting: Will Scarnell

Boom Operator: Bahar Yamini Sharif

Dubbing Mixer: Andrew Thomps

Online Editor: Kypros Kyprianou

Music: Farhad Amirahmadi

Editor: Conal Percy

Associate Producer: Maryam Seyf

 

 

Funded by Iran Heritage Foundation