Iranians to take home “A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral”

TEHRAN, Aug. 20 (MNA) -- Acclaimed dark comedy “A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral” (2006) will be released on the Iranian home video network on Tuesday.

This film is about two workers at a roadside service station who find themselves with little to no work because the main highway now takes a detour. One of them begins to behave strangely, occasionally disappearing and becoming obsessed with weather reports. The other falls in love with a girl he has never met, to whom he sends passionate love letters that are returned to the postman.

Directed by Saman Salur, the film never premiered in Iranian movie theaters due to a ban imposed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

However, it won accolades at several international events.

The film won the Special Jury Prize in the Filmmakers of the Present section at the 59th Locarno International Film Festival in 2006 Switzerland.

It was also awarded the Grand Prize of the 28th Festival of the Three Continents in 2006 in Nantes, France.

In Addition, the Best Film Award at the 6th Third Eye Film Festival 2007 was presented to Salur at the Indian event, which takes place annually in Mumbai.

Best director and best screenplay awards at the 10th Iran Cinema Celebration in 2006 were given to the film. The celebration is held annually by the House of Cinema, which is the Iranian cineastes’ guild.

Salur has also directed “From the Land of Silence”, on two young brothers working in the Iranian desert rebel against their harsh lives and “Tehran’s song of Loneliness”, a dark comedy on difficulties of living in the megalopolis of Tehran, none of which were granted a screening license by the Culture Ministry.

However, his latest film “Sizdah 59”, on an Iranian war veteran who awakens from a 20-year coma, premiered in Iran.