Mohammad Rasoulof

Mohammad Rasoulof is an independent Iranian filmmaker who has made eight feature films and received numerous prestigious awards, including the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for "A Man of Integrity" (2017), the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for "There Is No Evil" (2020), the Best Director Award in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes for

"Goodbye" (2011) and the FIPRESCI Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes for "Manuscripts Don’t Burn" (2013).

Although his films have been widely acclaimed internationally, none have been screened in Iran due to censorship. Over the years, under the pressure and repression from Iranian authorities, he has endured various judicial punishments, including imprisonment. His most recent film, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" (2024), had a successful international run, winning the Special Jury Prize at Cannes and receiving nominations for the Oscars, Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA, César and European Film Awards.

اجرای تئاتریِ محمد رسول‌اف، مضامین تبعید، هویت و آزادی هنری را در هم می‌تند و به اجرایی بدل می‌کند که تماشاگران را دعوت می‌کند دربارهٔ معنای «وطن» و نیروی خودمختاری و تعیین سرنوشت بیندیشند. ستاره ملکی، مهسا رستمی و نیوشا اخشی ـ که رسول‌اف پیش‌تر در فیلم سینمایی «دانهٔ انجیر معابد» (۲۰۲۴) با آنان همکاری کرده بود ـ اکنون در نمایش «Destination: Origin» بر صحنه حضور دارند. همانند خودِ محمد رسول‌اف، آنان نیز ناچار به ترک ایران شدند. در برلین، در مقصدی (به‌ظاهر) نهایی، این بازیگران ـ که در این اجرا با همکارشان الی ریکاردی همراه شده‌اند ـ ایستگاه‌های گریز و مهاجرت خود را از سر می‌گذرانند. انسان به چه چیز تکیه می‌کند، وقتی از سدهای نظارت دائمیِ سیاسی عبور می‌کند؟ برای رسیدن به آزادیِ شخصیِ خویش، به چه چیز بازمی‌گردد و بر چه چیزی تمرکز می‌کند؟ رسول‌اف تصاویری از سفری می‌آفریند که در آن، مقصد و نقطهٔ آغاز در هم محو می‌شوند.

This theatre production by Mohammad Rasoulof weaves the themes of exile, identity and artistic freedom into a performance that invites the audience to reflect on the meaning of home and the power of self-determination. Setareh Maleki, Mahsa Rostami and Niousha Akhshi, with whom Rasoulof previously collaborated on “The Seed Of The Sacred Fig” (2024), also appear in “Destination: Origin”.

Just like Rasoulof himself, they were forced to leave Iran. In Berlin, at their (supposed) destination, the actresses – joined by their colleague Eli Riccardi – go through the stages of their escape. What do you orientate yourself by when you leave the boundaries of constant political control? What do you return to in order to arrive at your own freedom? Rasoulof creates images of a journey in which destination and origin become blurred.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia.

A co-production of the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus, the Berliner Festspiele / Performing Exiles, the Nationaltheater Mannheim and the Theater an der Ruhr Mülheim. read less