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Among the Taboos of Iran: How Ali Ahmedzadeh Filmed 'Danger Zone' in Secret?
"Danger Zone" is a drama film released in 2023, written and directed by Iranian director Ali Ahmedzadeh. The film is a co-production between Iran and Germany and was shot secretly without the permission of the Iranian authorities. The film follows a drug trafficker as he spends a night in the dark world of Tehran and won the Golden Leopard Award at the 76th Locarno Film Festival. As a result, Ahmedzadeh came under pressure from the Iranian authorities and was unable to attend the premiere in person or leave Iran.
"The making of this film was a massive rebellion that showed just how much cinema means to us."
Plot summary
The story is set in current Tehran. The male protagonist Amir makes a living as a drug dealer and lives alone in an apartment shared with his close bulldog Fred. After bringing back a bag of marijuana, hashish and opium from the city's ring road tunnel system, he began sorting the drugs and baking two pallets of hash biscuits. He then drove to meet customers and deliver the drugs, like a "modern-day prophet." In Tehran at night, Amir's driving route was guided by a female-voiced GPS navigation system and informed of dangers such as road obstacles and police inspections.
Characters and filming
"Danger Zone" is Ahmedzadeh's fourth feature film. In his director's notes to the Locarno Film Festival, he explained that he shot "with real people" rather than professional actors. The entire film was shot on the streets of Tehran in a clandestine manner. According to Ahmedzadeh, the filming team "had to hide the cameras or come up with complicated methods" to deal with various restrictions during the confidential filming process. He referred to the filming process as a "major rebellion" and said that "showing this film to others will be our greater victory."
"The character of Amir is like a crosser traveling along the personal river of Hades, showing the darkness and despair of the world he lives in."
Issue and response
On May 10, 2023, Paris-based company Luxbox acquired the international distribution rights for the film and will present it in the Cannes market. On July 5, "Danger Zone" was announced as being selected into the international competition of the 76th Locarno Film Festival. Ahmedzadeh was subsequently summoned by Iranian security services and accused of filming porn. He came under pressure from the authorities to withdraw from a screening in Locarno and was unable to travel abroad to attend film festivals, resulting in the revocation of his exit visa. According to his co-producer Sina Ataeian Dena, Ahmedzadeh is currently under investigation by security services and is under constant surveillance.
"He does not believe in censorship rules, stands up for free speech and art, and like many others has given up his fear and become part of the protest movement."
Honor and Evaluation
On August 12, 2023, "Danger Zone" won the Golden Leopard Award at the Locarno Film Festival, becoming the festival's highest honor. When Ahmedzadeh received the award, he was unable to be present in person, and co-producer Ataeian Dena accepted the award on his behalf. Many German-speaking film critics praised the film and noted that it was a worthy winner at the film festival. According to reports, the award is not only a recognition of art, but also a solidarity with those producers who are working hard in the Iranian film industry.
Now, amid the pressure and scrutiny Ahmedzadeh faces, his story and "Danger Zone" shed light on unknown corners of Iran's reality. In today's world, how much change can artists' struggles bring about, and can they be a catalyst for liberation?
