Bahman Ghobadi Quotes

Powerful Bahman Ghobadi for Daily Growth

About Bahman Ghobadi

Bahman Ghobadi, born on August 21, 1969, in Baneh, Iran, is a renowned Iranian filmmaker who has made significant contributions to cinema with his unique blend of drama, comedy, and political satire. He is best known for his critically acclaimed films such as "Turtles Can Fly" (2004) and "A Time for Drunken Horses" (2000), which have received numerous international awards. Growing up in the Kurdish region of Iran, Ghobadi was exposed to the harsh realities of war, oppression, and displacement that have significantly influenced his work. He began his career as a cartoonist and journalist before turning to filmmaking. His debut film, "Rhino Season" (1996), was banned in Iran due to its controversial themes, leading Ghobadi to seek refuge in Europe. In exile, Ghobadi continued to create thought-provoking films that reflected the struggles of his people. "Turtles Can Fly," set against the backdrop of the Iraq-Iran war, tells the story of a group of Kurdish children who live near a chemical weapons storage facility. The film won the Caméra d'Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Ghobadi's works are characterized by their raw, authentic portrayal of life in war-torn regions, often featuring child protagonists navigating through complex adult issues. His films serve as a powerful commentary on the human condition during times of conflict and upheaval. Despite facing numerous challenges and censorship, Ghobadi continues to create thought-provoking cinema that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The wind cries, but it doesn't weep."

The quote implies that while nature, symbolized by the wind in this case, can express itself powerfully (in this instance, through crying), it does not possess emotions like humans, who would weep. It underscores the stark contrast between humanity's emotional capacity and the seemingly emotionless yet powerful forces of nature.


"When you love your enemies, you don't need any gun."

This quote by Bahman Ghobadi suggests that unconditional love for one's enemies has the power to eliminate the need for violence or weapons. By embracing love, understanding, and empathy towards those who may be perceived as adversaries, we can disarm conflict, promote peace, and foster a more harmonious coexistence. It emphasizes the transformative potential of love over aggression or retaliation.


"Life is like a cinema where everyone is allowed to make their own film and decide the ending."

This quote suggests that life, like a movie, offers each individual the freedom to create their unique story or "film." We have control over our actions, choices, and decisions, which collectively shape our personal narrative. Furthermore, we possess the power to determine our own endings, implying the capacity for self-determination and the ability to write a fulfilling conclusion to our life's story based on our experiences, growth, and wisdom. In essence, Bahman Ghobadi encourages us to embrace the creative potential within ourselves and make the most of the precious time we have in this ever-unfolding cinematic journey called life.


"Art should be a mirror reflecting society's truth."

Bahman Ghobadi suggests that art serves as a reflection, faithfully mirroring the essence and reality of its surrounding society. This implies that great art does not merely entertain or decorate; it holds up a glass to our world, revealing its complexities, contradictions, beauty, and truths. Thus, by analyzing art, we can gain insights into the human condition, societal norms, and cultural values.


"The more you close your eyes to see the reality, the darker the world becomes."

This quote by Bahman Ghobadi suggests that avoiding or ignoring the truth about one's circumstances or the state of the world can make it seem darker or more daunting. By shutting out reality, we limit our understanding of the situation and deprive ourselves of the opportunity to address issues effectively. It encourages us to face challenges head-on, embracing reality in order to bring light and progress into the world.


In Kurdistan, there's a lot of hardship - a lot of wars, a lot of bitter and difficult lifestyles. And witnessing all those made me a director.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Difficult, Made, Witnessing, Director

I often ask myself, 'Why is it that most of the lies come out of Islamic countries, and why is it that most of the social corruptions are in the Middle East and in these Islamic countries?' The answer is, when you control something, when you suppress something, people try to do it another way.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Why, Another, Islamic, Another Way

I used to believe that people are only born once, but now I feel I have been reborn, like I was given a new life. I see myself as a child, full of energy and hope.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Feel, Been, I See, Energy

For me, it's better to live without looking over your shoulder, worrying about who is controlling your phone, maybe poisoning your food.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Over, Maybe, Worrying, Shoulder

It feels very, very good to make a film freely, to work without having to wait years for script approval, without looking over your shoulder.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Over, Very, Feels, Shoulder

I'm very much interested in music specifically and wanted to make a film about it, but not in an atmosphere of censorship.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Music, Atmosphere, Very, Specifically

I use humour a lot. My foundation is tragic, but my appearance is humorous.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Appearance, Use, Lot, Humorous

I love music; I come from a region of Kurdistan that is a base for music.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Love, Music, I Love, Base

In my view, the adults are the burnt generation of Iraq for whom nothing can be done. But for the children, we can worry now, we can talk about them, we can plan for them, we can get our protest heard by others.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Worry, Generation, Nothing, Burnt

I had seen some films made about the underground music world in Tehran, and most of them were short documentaries about 30 or 40 minutes long. And I always wondered why they weren't publicized more. Really, their only flaw was they were short documentaries.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Some, About, Music World, Documentaries

I'm free - but I'm also not free because there are millions of young people living in Iran. A filmmaker can only do a little.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Living, Young, Iran, Filmmaker

If I hadn't turned out to be a filmmaker, I would have been a musician.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Been, Turned, Would, Filmmaker

When you want to make a film abroad, you need producers and people who support you. You need a team that speaks your language.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Want, Need, Abroad, Producers

I didn't have the welfare. I didn't have the proper education. I didn't have these things. That's why it's almost like a complex in me that I want to explode myself in my films.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Education, Films, Almost, Explode

I had no education in filmmaking. I started with a 8mm camera. I made 34 films, and little by little I gained more experience in filming.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Education, Made, Films, Gained

I went to underground music studios. In the studios, I learned that you can make a movie without a permit.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Music, Movie, Studios, Underground

Actually, the only thing I regret is not making more underground films and bringing them with me as historical documents.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Regret, Making, Films, Underground

Lying and corruption are in the Iranian society in all sense of the world, and if you do research about married women, you see that a lot of them tell you they get a lot of enjoyment from breaking the rules of corruption, because just for the fact that they break the rules, it makes them oppose the system.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Fact, Tell, Iranian, Oppose

In Iranian cinema, all the lying takes place before making the film. In order to be able to make the film, you have to lie.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Making, Before, Iranian, Cinema

I always loved music, and I always wanted to make a film about it, but I could never do it because of the censorship that was around.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Always, Could, About, Censorship

I am really bothered when I see my friends facing problems back in Iran, but I tell them that not all the doors are shut.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Tell, Shut, Iran, Bothered

I love music, I make films with music, I eat with music, I sleep with music, I think with music. Music makes me dream; it strengthens my creativity.

- Bahman Ghobadi

Love, Think, Films, Dream It

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