Feri Farzaneh
Khark Island is an ethnographic documentary about an island in the Persian Gulf. Traditional life is shown, alongside westernized developments which have been built to accommodate newcomers working in the oil industry. The film uses some interesting tracking and aerial techniques, at times reminiscent of Albert Lamorisse's Lover's Wind.
Some narration and 13th century French medieval music, rotating sculptures filmed before a monochrome background.
This little known documentary short is actually the first Iranian film to compete in the Cannes festival. It is one of several Iranian documentaries focused on the ancient ruins of Persepolis, a very popular symbol in the nationalist project led by the Shah around the legacy of "Cyrus the Great."
