Another Tehran

During a season of intensifying relations between the United States and Iran, Sam Ali Kashani returned to his family’s homeland during the summer of 2007. Like the majority of Iranian American families that ultimately found refuge in California, Sam’s family fled the turbulent and intolerant regime that was installed after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Sam, however, was thoroughly American, leading a lifestyle typical of any young Californian. Therefore, his perspective of Iran was much like most Americans, colored by skewed media portrayals and political constructions. Yet, the Tehran he observed upon his arrival was anything but what he seen on the television: the bustling, modern city squares; the influence of Western music and culture on the adolescents and young professionals, and the vibrant calls for social reform. Tehran: Another Side is a tale of the dynamic city from the eyes of one Iranian-American, which strips the camera from political filtering and humanizes its people with sincerity and honesty.While walking the streets of Tehran and commingling with its everyday citizens, Sam gradually discovered another side of the city’s story that was seldom told. Freely discussing politics with Iranian college students, taking in the city’s electric night life, and absorbing Tehran’s rich and celebrated history, chapters of the city’s narrative erased from Western text. Upon his return to Los Angeles from his first trip to Tehran, his friends were eager to hear stories and see pictures that confirmed their misconceptions and stereotypes of Tehran. While they anticipated tales about Islamic fundamentalists and images of desert traveling camels, Sam revealed sides of the city that reminded them about their typical American lives in California. Taken aback by their shock and disbelief about Iran’s normalcy, Sam resolved to piece together a living memory of his first trip back to Iran: this documentary.

In a society where rap music is considered forbidden, Bahram has been able to break all social and political barriers, and successfully establish himself as one of the premier hip-hop artists in Iran’s booming underground music movement. Since the age of 13, he has continued to develop his unique talents in songwriting, composition, and rapping, in addition to personally funding his work in a country where financial sponsorship for such an artistic venture is virtually non-existent.Even so, Bahram has achieved fame and recognition from Iranians and non-Iranians throughout the world, who appreciate his powerful lyrics, hard-hitting beats, and commanding vocal presence.