Season 1 • Episode 16
LatestHezar-Dastan was an Iranian epic historical drama television series from 1987, developed and directed by Ali Hatami. Hezar Dastan is considered one of the most important and most influential works of art in the history of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. The production of the show took almost 8 years, starting in 1979 and ending in 1987, during which Hatami established a large set to represent Tehran in both Qajar dynasty and World War II, retroactively creating Iran's first movie studio and backlot (named Ghazali Cinema Town). The show tells the story of Reza Khoshnevis (also known as Reza Tofangchi), and his life and entanglement with corruption in government, and trying to correct it using not conventional means. The story is split into two section and it features Iran during the turbulent times of the latter days of Qajar Dynasty and during the events of World War II and Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran.
Production
Hatami built an entire historical Tehran from scratch—then burned it.
Acting
Jamshid Mashayekhi's eyes contain multitudes of suppressed rage.
Direction
Theater-trained ensemble blocking in sprawling cinematic scale.
Creator
Ali Hatami
Jamshid Mashayekhi
Reza Khoshnevis (Tofangchi)
Ali Nasirian
Abolfath the Bookbinder
Ezzatollah Entezami
Khan -e- Mozaffar (Hezardastan)
Mohammadali Keshavarz
Shaban Ostadkhani a.k.a. Ostekhani
Davoud Rashidi
Moffatesh Shesh Angoshti
Jahangir Forouhar
Baqer Mirza / Head Waiter at Grand Hotel
Hosein Gil
Seyyed Morteza
Jafar Vali
Head of Shahrbani
Zari Khoshkam
Amineh Aghdas
Leila Hatami
Young Amineh Aghdas
Parviz Pourhosseini
Matin -o- Saltane
Mohammad Motie
Qolam Amme
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ghazali Cinema Town still stands outside Tehran and remains active for productions—Hatami's fake city outlived the regime that nearly blocked the show.
The series aired during the Iran-Iraq War; its critique of foreign occupation and puppet governments carried dangerous contemporary weight that censors nearly suppressed.
IR
