La relazione cinematografica tra Italia e Iran

This thesis illustrates the presence of Italian cinema in Iran and analyses how the Iranian public accepted foreign cinema, in parallel with the changes that were happening to their society. This inquiry begins with the economic aspects derived from oil acting as a growth and change driver for the Iranian society. The thesis retraces the stages of the nationalization of oil - a vital element in the relations with western countries -, and analyses the role Italy played in that context and the birth of trade relationships between Italy and Iran. Then, the project examines in more detail the relations between Italy and Iran from the cinematographic point of view, and the success of Italian movies in Iran. Consequently, the thesis illustrates the reasons behind the presence of Italian cinema in Iran, and examines the influences produced by their bilateral relationships. The analysis goes through the various stages of the recording in Italy of dubbings in Persian, and the Iranian popular and intellectual cinemas. Notwithstanding an Italian side to this project, the majority of the attention is dedicated to the recipient state, Iran, by using data taken from historical documents, texts, newspapers, available resources and interviews with people competent in the subject matter. The work focuses on texts that delve into the economic and cinematographic situation of Iran at the time of the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, coinciding with the post-World War II years, during which Italian cinema held the most influence over Iranian cinema. Purpose of the thesis is to define the reasons behind the development in the cinematographic relationships between the two countries, how Italian cinema transpired through Iranian cinema, and the premises that led to development of the latter.