Reviewed by Sheila Karbassian

This vibrant documentary-style film by Iranian director Bahman Ghobadi is an eye-opening introduction to the diverse underground music scene of Tehran. The film tracks a young musician couple (Negar Shagaghi and Askhan Koshanejad) in their quest to form a band, cut a record, and leave the country in order to perform in a concert in London—all in the space of only eight days. This is no easy feat as western music is illegal in the Islamic Republic, and many of the musicians are young men who either don't have passports (due to military obligations) or, at best, have minimal chances of acquiring a visa. So, like most things in Iran, this must be taken care of illegally too. As we follow the couple through their struggle to accomplish all of this, we are introduced to the active musical world pulsating just under the skin of the city, as well as an array of colorful characters that help the couple on their tumultuous journey.

"Nobody Knows About Persian Cats" French posterThis is not your average everyday tale of a band looking for fame and fortune—it is the story of the basic human need to simply be heard. We don't have to live under a blatantly oppressive state to know how painful it is to not be allowed to express ourselves, but in Iran censorship is both a form of suffocation and a tool for survival. Watching the characters navigate this fine line reminds us that even under the most extremely unfortunate situations lies the potential for unimaginable and relentless creativity.

There is some heartfelt acting from characters like Nader (Hamed Behdad), the couple's self appointed agent/manager/illegal advisor who, having seen too many talented musicians leave, first tries to talk the kids into staying in the country and work on realizing their dream at home, but then dedicates himself exclusively to helping them get out. Nader is the voice of optimism and really carries the film, but the performances are all refreshingly authentic—which is no surprise since most of the characters were actually playing themselves.

As a director Mr. Ghobadi is best known for dramatic narratives of extreme hardship (A Time For Drunken Horses, Turtles Can Fly). His films remind us that life is always a struggle; it may break us, but our spirit goes on and there is always someone there to pick up from where we left off. This new film, though a departure in form and pacing (it's essentially a docudrama edited in music-video style), effectively presents the same themes.

Overall, Nobody Knows about Persian Cats* is a treat for our aural and visual senses, and more. It not only communicates Mr. Ghobadi's own understanding and appreciation for music (he himself sings a hauntingly beautiful Kurdish melody in the beginning of the film) but more importantly acknowledges the emergence and struggle of the next generation of his fellow artists.

Like Mr. Ghobadi, we hear their voices—and we will continue to listen.

 * the film opens in Los Angeles on April 23

Sheila Karbassian is an Iranian American writer in Los Angeles. She graduated with a B.A. in Graphic Design from Tehran's Azad University and is completing a Master's in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica. While living in New York, she was a regular contributor to Tehranavenue.com.