Iranian writer laments appropriation of his novel’s title for film

TEHRAN,Feb.12(MNA) -- Author Mostafa Mastur has voiced his objection to the title of the film “Kissing the Moon-Like Face” due to its similarity to the title of his novel “Kiss the Lovely Face of God” in its Persian expression. “Kissing the Moon-Like Face”, a drama on dedication to the family, was screened at the 30th Fajr International Film Festival that ended last night. “The media and readers of my works have asked me about the relation between the film and my novel ‘Kiss the Lovely Face of God’ that was published about ten years ago,” Mastur told on Saturday. “I deny any relation between the film and my novel and, in an optimistic view, naming the film as such is an abuse of my novel in order to draw people into the cinema,” he added. “Due to the atmosphere of [chaos] dominating in the Iranian cultural field, particularly the Iranian cinema, it is not surprising, but it is shameful,” he stated. Mastur said that he does not plan to file a lawsuit concerning the issue. “I do not believe in litigation, solely for some manufactured reason,” he stated. “Such is the type of treatment our literature receives from the cinema. It is rooted in our improper cultural traditions and is the result of the lack of cultural development and disregard for the rights of others,” he said. “Thus, these improper traditions can not be improved by means of some specific articles, provisions, and bylaws,” Mastur noted. “Kiss the Lovely Face of God”, which poses question about man and his faith in God, has been translated into Italian, Arabic, Indonesian and several other languages.