Longing for Iran: The Tehran Diary

Longing for Iran: The Tehran Diary is the documented journey of aspiring Iranian filmmaker Farouq Mohime’s return to Iran, eight years after their last time there and their first time returning in adulthood. Their aim, to observe how much and where Iran, and its capital Tehran in particular, has changed in that time and indeed over the course of its long, rich and complicated history, as well as looking to provide a better understanding of how diverse and different the country really is against common Western perception.

Born in London, yet firmly holding onto their Iranian heritage, Mohime is admittedly not fluent in Farsi, but wants to be, and speaks briefly but significantly about how despite being a dual British national, there is a certain fear of prejudice that never truly goes away. But in fact, it’s this which makes Mohime’s such an interesting perspective, that of a young adult raised in the UK, realising the significance of both his nationality and nation’s place not just in the world but in history, placing Mohime in a unique position to be able to make and balance observations from both sides.

Mohime defines their journey as "a trip to one of the most complicated and at times misunderstood countries in the world", which couldn’t be more accurate. As we journey along with Mohime during his time in Iran’s capital, their footage offers us not just a chance to travel through this genuinely fascinating and complex civilization, but probes deeper to show a people and a country that has changed over time in just as many ways as it hasn’t. Its presentation is a fairly simple and subdued affair, but one that is highly informative.

With Mohime, we witness a number of places of significant cultural and historical importance, each venture showcasing just as much of Iran's vibrancy as its long history which, in many ways, is very much still integral to their modern-day culture. As we visit each place, they of course offer us all the historical context, dates, locations, who's and whys we need to know about what we are looking at, but the interesting parts come when offering their own perspective on how it all makes them feel, never erring into trying to force a change in mind, simply offering honest opinion.

There are a number of fairly compelling segments, especially those depicting Iran’s long and murky relationship with the West, the US in particular and one striking segment details significant incidents that have since shaped the West’s tenuous relationship with the Middle east to this day. And there are others that highlight a shift in attitudes from within towards Iran as well, the growing disillusionment of the youth towards the Iran of old, to religion and to cultural expectations as a whole. It all makes for a much more layered and deeper piece of filmmaking that one would anticipate, never judging, simply observing.

In Longing for Iran: The Tehran Diary, Mohime ponders the past, present and future of Iran, asking us and themselves, big insightful questions, as well as exploring their own hopes and dreams for their country and allowing us a better understanding of a complex and fascinating culture.