NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT
PERSIAN CATS

Year: 2009
USA: IFC Films
UK: Network Releasing
Cast: Negar Shaghaghi. Ashkan Koshanejad, Hamed Behdad, Hichkas, Ash Koosha
Director: Bahman Ghobadi
Country: Iran
Language: Farsi (English subtitles)
USA: 106 mins
UK: 101 mins
USA Rated: U
UK Certificate: 12A contains moderate injury detail
USA Release Date: 16 April 2010 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 26 March 2010 (Limited Release)
US Distributor
UK Distributor

Synopsis

The acclaimed fifth feature film from Bahman Ghobadi, the director of HALF MOON and TURTLES CAN FLY opened the Certain Regard strand of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. It combines musical performances with an edgy underground narrative and follows Iranian musicians Negar (Negar Shaghagi) and Ashkan (Ashkan Koshanejad) as they look for band members to play at a London concert plus the visa that allows them to leave totalitarian Iran to do so.

NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS features music from a wide range of genres including Iranian rap, jazz and electric blues. Executive produced by imprisoned Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi the film includes performances in English and Farsi.

For over 30 years the Iranian government has banned certain types of music deemed as impure, compelling many fans of Iranian alternative music and western bands to go underground.

The band that features in the film called Take It Easy Hospital now live in London having fled their homeland. The male lead was imprisoned for 21 days for performing in a rock concert.

Winner of the Special Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival 2009