This painting titled, The Immortal Beloved by @soheila_sokhanvari_ shows a portrait of Pouri Banaaei, one of Iran’s most distinguished living actors🎨 Banaaei worked prolifically between 1964 and 1979 – the years of the Shah’s White Revolution – starring in many Filmfarsi movies, as well as Iranian New Wave classics such as Masoud Qimiai’s iconic noir revenge drama ‘Qeysar’ (1969)📽 She personally financed this film with a bank loan and was never reimbursed or even paid for her work – a reality of financial exploitation, Banaaei recalls, for many female actors at the time After the revolution in 1978-9 she was summoned to Evin prison for interrogation and asked to sign a letter of repentance; she courageously refused, explaining she had done nothing to be ashamed of. She made no more films until 2008’s ‘Shirin’, a film exploring the female gaze🎬 @bagrifoundation @aceagrams @kristinhjellegjerdegallery