New Jersey Stage 2017: Issue 40 | Page 22

In Between SHARE BUTTON Adjectives like ‘brave’ and ‘dar- ing’ are all too often thrown out in relation to filmmakers, but in the case of those attempting to make films in the Middle East, such labels are indeed appropri- ate. Despite being the subject of a filmmaking ban imposed by his NJ STAGE 2017 - Issue 40 by Eric Hillis government, Iran’s Jafar Panahi has managed to elevate his ca- reer by finding loopholes in the system that allow him to defy the authorities who seek to silence his voice. Saudi Arabia’s Haifaa al-Mansour was forced to direct her debut film Wadjda using INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 22