Comedies in Iranian cinema: Opportunity or cause for concern?
After some figures were published on the success of Iranian comedies in cinemas, Mohammad Mehdi Esmaeili, Iran’s minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said in a recent interview that some would like to suggest that only comedies are successful in Iran.
Despite the success of comedies like ‘Fossil’ this year, Esmaeili’s statement raises eyebrows, according to an article published on asriran.com, an Iranian news website.
The minister acknowledged the success of ‘Fossil,’ stating that the film was a great success and had nearly $6 million in sales over nine months of public screening. Although other Iranian films that broke the record of over $2.4 million were also comedies, the minister stressed that we had successful works “on children and social issues” as well.
However, some wish to imply that only comedy films attract movie lovers, the minister highlighted.
Elsewhere, recently, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ezzatollah Zarghami highlighted the importance of joy in people’s lives, stating, “One of our losses is the issue of joy.”
The current top five grossing films in Iranian cinema are ‘Fossil,’ ‘Hotel,’ ‘Shahr-e Hert,’ ‘Smart Kid,’ and ‘Three Puffs.’ Looking at previous years, there has been a similar trend of successful comedy films.
What is essential, and the message that the community conveys through the success of comedy films, is that not only do people prefer comedy, but they also feel the necessity of entertainment, joy, and laughter.
Iranian audiences, dealing with tight household budgets and economic pressures due to foreign sanctions, desire an escape from the nerve-racking world, even if only for two hours, to enjoy and distance themselves from the crises around them.
Considering the current economic challenges, rising living costs, and income gaps, going to the cinema has become the most accessible and affordable form of entertainment for all walks of life.
It’s crucial to be reminded that in the real world, considering various factors ranging from production costs to return on investment, comedy films are collective serendipity; they not only sell well but satisfy both the audience and the film industry.
Comedy films worldwide share the characteristic of being well-received, but not to the extent seen in Iran. The highest-grossing film in a country for years in a row is rarely a comedy, but in Iran it is.
The point that the audience prefers comedy films to other genres must be taken seriously because it signifies both an opportunity and a cause for
concern.