Iran was back in the news last week after an international agreement over its nuclear programme, which Barack Obama hailed as 'historic'.
In Western cinema, Iran is most often the setting for political thrillers such as Argo. For some very different perspectives, the cinema of the country itself has for many decades introduced audiences to extraordinary filmmakers and films, as well as offering a range of provocative, illuminating and politically-charged insights into life in the Middle Eastern country.
Several of the country's most accomplished filmmakers - such as Abbas Kiarostami, Jafar Panahi and Asghar Farhadi - warrant a list of their own, but here's a selection of five films that serve as something of an introduction to the cinema of Iran.
Close-Up (Abbas Kiarostami, 1990)
Blurring the lines between fiction and documentary, Abbas Kiarostami's formally inventive yet emotionally and thematically rich work catapulted him on to the international scene. Now regarded as one of the greatest films of all time by many critics, Close-Up is a perfect introduction to the director, who has continued challenging convention and cinematic rules ever since.
Offside (Jafar Panahi, 2006)
Jafar Panahi has become a symbol of the very real practical restrictions placed on filmmakers in Iran - he has been banned from making any by the regime in the country, but has continued working surreptitiously (his extraordinary film This Is Not a Film was famously smuggled out of Iran in a flash drive hidden in a cake for its Cannes premiere).
Offside is one of his more entertaining and accessible works, but also serves as a startlingly look at the social inequality prevalent in Iran. It's also a great football film (despite the fact that there's very little actual football seen), about a group of women attempting to watch a World Cup qualifying match despite being forbidden from attending because of their sex.
About Elly (Asghar Farhadi, 2009)
Asghar Farhadi's films have enjoyed significant critical and even commercial success in recent years, on the back of his brilliant A Separation. His earlier film About Elly received a release thanks to that film's success, and it's a relief that it did - it would be a shame to see a film this compelling, smart and ultimately devastating go without the attention it deserves. Starring Golshifteh Farahani in a wonderful lead performance, this is every bit the equal of A Separation and The Past.
The Cow (Dariush Mehrjui, 1969)
The film that well and truly increased Iranian cinema's profile around the world. The Cow explores the relationship between a man and - you've guessed it - his cow. That serves as a window into mid-century rural Iranian society, making it a fascinating historical document as well as a vitally important film.
Ten (Abbas Kiarostami, 2002)
And we circle back to Kiarostami, which is almost inevitable given his importance in contemporary Iranian cinema. This is one of the great 'one location' films, almost entirely focused on one woman driving around Tehran. The conversations she has with her passengers reveal much about life in the country, and rewards the patient viewer with plenty of powerful yet subtle moments. Mania Akbari plays the driver, and she has gone on to become an accomplished, talented director of her own - even if she has been forced to flee to London to continue making her controversial, provocative films.
