Iranian theaters celebrate Id al-Fitr with new premieres

TEHRAN,Aug.21(MNA) -- Three films premiered in the Iranian theaters on Saturday to liven up Id al-Fitr, the celebration marking the end of the month of Ramadan. “Kolah-Qermezi and Baby”, a children’s film directed by Iraj Tahmasb, “Bulletproof”, a war comedy drama by Mostafa Kiani, and “Without a Goodbye”, Ahmad Amini’s film about the life story of a pop star have begun premieres in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Ahvaz, Rasht and several other major Iranian cities. “Kolah-Qermezi and Baby” is sequel to Tahmasb’s films about the puppet character Kolah-Qermezi (The Red-Hatted). This film also introduces several new puppet characters, which have previously appeared on TV shows. The film grossed 2.6 billion rials (about $124,000) in the two days since its premiere. Cinematic analysts have predicted that the film will become the box office hit of the year. “Kolah-Qermezi and Pesar-Khaleh” (1992) and “Kolah-Qermezi and Sarvenaz” (2001) drew hundreds of audiences to the theaters. “Bulletproof”, staring Mehdi Hashemi, is about a 50-year-old man who makes a living as a dealer of bootleg films who then decides to join the volunteers on the front line in the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war after he learns that he is suffering from a brain tumor. Kiaii, who is also the writer of the film’s screenplay, won the best script award at the 30th Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran in February this year. “Without Farewell”, starring the Iranian composer and pop star Reza Sadeqi, takes a glance at the life story of a pop singer who decides to live in isolation.