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Brick and Mirror

Masterpieces of the Iranian New Wave

,Cinema 1
A black and white still from Brick and Mirror, showing a man and woman embracing in bed

A repeat screening of Iranian cinema’s first true modern masterpiece, Brick and Mirror explores fear and responsibility in the wake of the 1953 coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6.

A Dostoyevskian tale of a Tehran cab driver’s search for the mother of an abandoned baby, it presents a harrowing image of a society rife with corrupted morals and widespread alienation. While rooted in a specific social context, its message resonates universally.

The godfather of the Iranian New Wave, Ebrahim Golestan, weaves this world together not only with his remarkable writing and direction but also with his own voice: first heard reciting a poem on the radio, warning of the dangers of the night, and later speaking the words of God from the Qur'an. 

Divinity and poetry meet in unlikely places – a smoky café, an empty bazaar, an orphanage. The film also marks the first creative use of direct sound in Iranian cinema which, heightened by the absence of a musical score, complements the claustrophobic use of widescreen.

Tagged with: Cinema Masterpieces of the Iranian New Wave

In Persian with English subtitles

Please note: this repeat screening does not have an introduction.

Film information
  • Release year   1964
  • Country   Iran
  • Director   Ebrahim Golestan
  • Runtime   130 min

Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.