Siahnamayi (抹黑)

I learned a new word from watching “Jafar Panahi’s Taxi”, also known as “Taxi Teheran”.  It is an 2015 Iranian movie, directed by Jafar Panahi.   The film won the Golden Bear at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.  

In the movie, Panahi drives a taxi around Teheran, picking up passengers and listening to their stories.  It touches on a wide range of issues: capital punishment, pirated videos of foreign films, movie making, stealing, will and inheritance, superstitious women, human rights, …

One of his passengers was Panahi’s niece, who was learning to make movies.  One of the rules imposed by her teacher was to avoid “siahnamayi” - literally “portraying in black”  (抹黑) - about the country.  

Another passenger was Nasrin Sotoudah, a human rights lawyer, who was on the way to visit Ghoncheh Ghavami, who was in prison for protesting for equal access to sporting events in Iran.  Sotoudah was imprisoned herself.  

The movie itself was accused of committing siahnamayi. Perhaps inevitably. 

Such courageous people!  Salute!