Projections Of Hedayat

Director Statement

We were all studying drama at university. That’s where we formed deep bonds, friendships, and began to experiment. We were young, curious, and full of energy.
Sanaz was my closest friend during those days. We spent most of our time together, often engaged in long, intense conversations. We both had a tendency to dive deep into ideas. We were writers and directors with very different styles, and that contrast made our connection even more interesting, not only in terms of personality but also appearance.
She had soft black hair and pale skin, calm on the outside, introverted, and deeply sensitive, with melancholic and depressive tendencies. I, on the other hand, had light brown curls and darker skin, bursting with energy, wild ideas, and an anarchic spirit. I was the one pulling us into parties, to dance and meet people; she was the one who stood by me through all my crazy, experimental projects.
I had already directed a few small pieces in 2003, but for her, this was the first serious experience as a director, in a real theatre hall. She was a devoted admirer of Sadegh Hedayat —the Iranian modernist writer known for his existential depth, dark themes, and psychological insight— she had read almost all his works and wanted to create a theater piece based on one of his nightmares. She wrote the play and asked me to create a video for the back projection.
Her play was serious and dramatic, so I decided to contrast it with something absurd, sarcastic, and slightly humorous. In a way, we were each projecting our personalities onto Hedayat’s nightmare. That blend, just like our friendship, made the result unique and compelling.
The play was called "The Black Dream". The video piece I made was titled "Projections of Hedayat", featuring "Naeem Jebeli", an old and talented singer-actor friend of mine, portraying Hedayat. I later turned it into a short film. This was only one of our memorable collaborations.