Is it about ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and Captain Jack Sparrow’s adventure?
Not really! It’s something more than that for Persians in Diaspora, foreign students in particular.
During our visit to the United States, Dr Dorbayani and I were invited to have a visit from Mr. Ahmad Reza Baharloo’s little studio at his home where we were introduced to his first docu-drama movie, which was made in 1977. It was exciting to be among very few who could see that production in the US.
“The End of Childhood”, which was made at the American University in Washington DC is indeed a treasure; it is not only unique but also original, yet notably real.
A student’s understanding of American culture before arriving in the United States is often distorted by exposure to American movies and television.
“The End of Childhood” is about the unexpected realities of the American culture, their challenge to a foreign student’s identity and problems with which we must cope.
The movie deals with an Iranian student’s personal crisis in his encounter with American culture. His responses to the problems he faces are simple avoidance and pretense of action.
The end of the movie brings him to an end of innocence with his dilemma yet to be solved.
“Where attitude translates itself into destiny, ‘The End of Childhood’ makes the best sense of it.” said Dr Dorbayani, founder of WAALM – Persian Golden Lioness Awards®.
Ahmad Reza Baharloo, writer and director of this fascinating movie was born in a place called Darab, a small town with huge lands, huge farms, and many villages around it. His life before coming to the U.S is almost divided equally between three cities, Darab, Shiraz, and Tehran. So he feels the same affection for all the three of them.
He started elementary school in Darab and finished high school in Shiraz. He received a BA in Economics from 'Melli University' in Tehran. In September 13, 1973 his American journey started. In 1977 after receiving a Master degree in Film and Television, he made a feature film, called 'The End Of Childhood', about young Iranians coming to the U.S with dreams to fulfill. In Aug 6, 1978 after a short trip to the homeland, he left Darab, Shiraz, Tehran, and Iran for good. Knowing then, deep down inside that the wind of frenzy, and mass madness blowing there was going to be stronger than the little breeze of his dreams.
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He could sense the backward direction of the people's movement, and didn't want to be part of it. He started journalism as a Sports writer in Tehran’s Mossavar Weekly Magazine while at college and then became the Sports editor. He continued until 1973 when he came to the U.S.
He started his Radio career in the Voice Of America - VOA ® on November 22nd 1979, and expanded it to TV on October 18th 1996. He has served VOA to this date on almost every capacity, from translator to announcer, MC, anchorman, programmer, managing editor, editor in chief, deputy chief, and so on.
In 1994 he started the radio programme of “Roundtable With You” a live call-in program from Washington in Persian. Little over two years later he started the first live TV broadcast from Voice Of America® in Washington D.C. The TV version of “Roundtable With You”, which was simulcast on radio too Roundtable was on every Friday night for ten years. On June 3rd, 2006 “Roundtable With You” became a daily program.
It was on its 10th anniversary in October 2006 that “Roundtable With You” received the Persian Golden Lioness Awards® from the World Academy of Arts, Literature, and Media – WAALM® in Budapest. He also received an Honorary Doctorate in the same year from International Further Studies Institute – IFSI® in Hungary for his outstanding endeavor to expand human horizon and public social awareness.
Since “The End of Childhood” is a contemporary story, Dr Dorbayani and I both encouraged Mr. Baharloo to brush his movie up and showcase it to public and allow it to run in film festivals.
We are glad that he has agreed and soon you will hear more from this movie, which is in my opinion not only story of yesterday, but story of today and possibly an everlasting one. It’s truly a remarkable production!
“The End of Childhood” is a Cine II Inc. production®
Photos of the movie are copy right of Ahmad Reza Baharloo Cine II Inc. Production© 1997-2007
Photo with holding award is copyright© of WAALM – Persian Golden Lioness Awards® www.waalm.com
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