emruz is a film project created as the visual framework for a live music performance by hermes ensemble. the new music was written by contemporary composers – four iranian and one belgian.
finding its inspiration in the 14th century poet hafez’ work, which the composers translated into new musical verses.
the film is a collage of imagery relating to contemporary life in iran – from the remote countryside, the rugged mountains, and the bustling city sprawls. borrowing visual stylistic elements from the 1970’s and 1980’s television portrayal of iran – such as static and grain – the film is presented in a strangely familiar yet melancholic language.
combining studio still life with rear-projection of imagery shot in iran, the film is comprised of constructed scenes that comment on the illusory nature of western visualization of iran; though all the images in the film have roots in reality, they are to a certain degree fictional constructions nonetheless.
