Reza’s nickname is “Lizard,“ because he can walk up walls. Later, when he becomes a mullah, he can benefit from this talent by performing good deeds and miracles. Lizard escapes from prison and wants to flee the countrym but how and where can he strip himself of the mullah's robe which has protected him? The movie MARMOULAK was the most important cultural event in Iran in 2004. During the first few days it attracted two million Iranians to the cinemas and, according to some estimates, 70% of the Iranian population have already seen it on DVD. The movie's success displeased the religious leaders and, after only three weeks, the comedy was pulled from cinemas in May of last year. This act of censorship, however, could not prevent Marmoulak from becoming a cult figure in Iran.

Beginning in September 2010 and continuing until February 2011, the Filmmuseum will feature a series of 20 films from various genres which will take their audiences into the most remote regions of the Islamic world. The films to be shown couldn’t be more diverse and together form a cinematic kaleidoscope that addresses ongoing political tensions and themes such as modernisation, globalisation, violence and perceived departures from tradition, the power of reason, and life and poetry in our contemporary global world.

Organisers: Munich Museum of Film [Münchner Filmmuseum], Munich Adult Education Centre [Münchner Volkshochschule]