Babak Jalali
RADIO DREAMS
USA, Iran, 2016, 91′
Hamid immigrates to the U.S. to pursue his writing career and the American Dream. Instead, he winds up working at a small Iranian radio station, seeking artistic satisfaction through the esoteric programming he puts together for his radio audience. Meanwhile, the owners of the station try to cash in on Hamid’s only program that they see fit for commercial success — the bringing together of an on-air jam session with Kabul Dreams and their long-time idols, Metallica. The ensuing collision between artistic integrity and crass commercialism resonates with hilarity and a poignant message, as Hamid fights to maintain a balance between his ambitions and his moral compass.
Babak Jalali (1978, Iran) moved to London at a young age. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he was accepted at the London Film School. His graduation film, HEYDAR: AN AFGHAN IN TEHRAN (2005), was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Short Film. In 2009 he made his first feature film, FRONTIER BLUES, which won the FIPRESCI prize for Best Film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. His Iranian background plays a central role in his work. His most recent work, RADIO DREAMS (2016), was awarded the Hivos Tiger Award at IFF Rotterdam.
Karaman Cinema, Sunday 11/9, 20:45