It was really bizarre, that Sabzian business. You know I had no interest in being photographed before this incident. But then not just Sabzianโmany other people started pretending they were me! One of them actually got married while pretending he was me! My face became publicly recognizable soon after I decided to have a few photographs of me available in public to prevent these sorts of identity thefts. It is really pathetic, if you think of it. Filmmakers and filmmaking is so popular in Iran because all other forms of expression have been denied to people.
Mohsen MakhmalbafI wanted to be left alone to live my life, so it was very easy for people to pretend that they were me.
Mohsen MakhmalbafWhen we began filming, these people had legs, but as we were filming, they had been injured and they were brought to the hospital to have their legs amputated, and that's where we found them and asked them to come and be part of the film.
Mohsen MakhmalbafThe Buddhas had to be destroyed by the Taliban to get the world thinking about Afghanistan.
Mohsen MakhmalbafIt was really bizarre, that Sabzian business. You know I had no interest in being photographed before this incident. But then not just Sabzianโmany other people started pretending they were me! One of them actually got married while pretending he was me! My face became publicly recognizable soon after I decided to have a few photographs of me available in public to prevent these sorts of identity thefts. It is really pathetic, if you think of it. Filmmakers and filmmaking is so popular in Iran because all other forms of expression have been denied to people.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf