During my tour
in Iran
in July 2004, I become so
inspired by the country's unique wonders and rich culture. It was diverse, vibrant
and magical. The greatest wonder of them all was the people. For
me it was obvious: with such kindness and hospitality, Iranian people and culture never fails
to win the hearts of them who visit the country.
When I started
to make the documentary movie about the nomads in Iran, this vision stood clear for me. I visitied
three nomadic groups during my tour in Iran: Bakhtiyaris
(Bactrians), Luri (Lor) and Qashqai. I
became so
fascinated by their heart and soul that I got a special
feeling for them, and this is my story expressed through a movie.
Based on my own
experiences I called the movie: TREKKING THROUGH THE
LAND OF
THE IRANIAN
NOMADS!
I am a 41 year old, aspiring amateur moviemaker
who grew up in Vinstra (where Peer Gynt also was born, who
the world famous Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen wrote about) in
Norway, and
now lives in Hosle, near the capital Oslo. Since I started
travelling around the world in 1996 I have produced several movies from my tours
as a hobby, and it still is. Without an education in moviemaking and pure
equipment I am far from professional. But anyway I think I can get something
interesting out from it.
Telling a story about a
great people
In my opinion,
making a movie is first and foremost about telling a story. To me it's the
emotions and natural dramatic that counts. Since I am experienced in writing
articles I think use this experience to make good stories in the films. It's so
easy to become lost in all available visual- and sounds technical effects. But
of course to make a story alive on the screen, you need to
know about many things from start to end, also included technical
effects.
First of all you
need to know how to shoot, including preparation, camera movement, and sound and
lighting basics; so comes the editing job including covering storyboards and
timelines, trimming, inserting titles and adding special effects; and finally
make the final edited movie available on DVD and internet.
|
Photo. A man from the Bakhtiyaris (Bactrians)
Nomads showing proudly his daughter.
I was always ecountered by friendly smiles just as these persons on the
photo show.
The movie about these people show their unique kindness and
hospitality. |
 |
Final
preparation
I am now preparing the final edited complete movie about Iranian Nomads for
output. At my last movie "The moonshine trekking to the top of
Kilimanjaro", I produced several editions for different purposes. The
biggest challenge is to make the stories "float" from start to end. Since I
seldom write scripts in advance, so I spend most of the time making the story
after the films are taken. The reason for this is that I want everything to
happen naturally, and I think that make my movie more interesting.
|
Photo. Luri (Lor) women in their beautiful
costumes cooking.
This was the first day for celebration of a wedding. |
 |
My general rule
is not to film and take photos before you have become familiar with the
people. With excellent assistance from my guide Ali, I found the chieftains or
other central persons in the tribes first (clan, group) and talked to them. They
invited me to be their guest, gave me permission to look around and allowed me
to film and take and photos. In some place the local people where delighted to
guide me around and show me their secret places.
My current movie
took me two weeks to shoot. It's too short time to give a deep insight of the
nomadic life, but it gives some impressions how the
nomads really are. My only crew were my two guides who joined me on the
tour in Iran: Ali
and Amir, father and son. They did a fantastic job taking scenes when I was
socialising with the nomads.
|
Photo. My two guides: father and son:
Ali and Amir Manoochehri, Pars
Tourist Agency (P.T.A),
Shiraz, Iran.
Ali had great instincts. He always knew where to go, and so things
starting to happen. With his excellent communication skills, he introduced
me in his best way for the locals and then I become everbody`s
guest. |
 |
People deserved to bee seen
in a new light
Iran has got
so much negative publicity during years that I wanted people around the world to
see another side of it. What I have tried to do in the movie is to portray
the Iranian people in a different light. To make up the balance for media`s
on-sided covering, I did my best to paint a positive picture of them. I guess
some people will be surprised by seeing how Iranian people really are. The
underlying truth is more complex than you can imagine from the media, but
knowing these people is something you wouldn't regret.
| Photo. Women from the Qasqai Nomads dancing
in beautiful costumes to their traditional music. It was so spectactular.
|
 |
I still see the
stereotype of Iranians when I read newspaper and watch TV. In my movie I really
want to change people's perspective of Iranian people, especially of
nomads. Unfortunately seen through history tribal societies have
not always been so respected and well treated by other people. It's
still a challenge that tribal societies face today.
The
nomadic tribes I met were really great! For me they stand as a symbol
for human's extraordinary achievement.
Especially their annual migration is impressing. It's amazing that a people
would so endure a journey of such tremendous efforts year after year.
| Photo. A Luri (Lor) shepard taking care of
the cattle. |
 |
I strongly
believe in my stories because they are based on my own experience combined with
additional reliable sources. Without any shadow of doubt I will strongly say
that Iranian people are one of the most kindly and hospitable people I ever have
met. This is a fact that shouldn't be overshadowed by political and religious
issues.
I hope my movie could be an
inspiration to all people who like to make friendship with people with different
lifestyle and culture. If you are willing to adapt, your adventures in
Iran could be the most rewarding ever.
Stein Morten Lund,
18 September
2004
Additional
information
Movie title:
TREKKING THROUGH THE LAND
OF THE IRANIAN NOMADS!
Click on this
link for viewing the trailer from the movie: Choopy-dance.
Movie overview:
This is a
documentary movie based on Stein Morten
Lund`s adventures in Iran July 2004. He
is a Norwegian Viking and adventurer who ventured high up in the
snow-capped mountains to meet no
madic tribes. On his way he became invited home to several
families and clans. They showed him an unique kindness and hospitality that melted his
heart.
Stein Morten
experienced two wedding celebrations and was challenged in the world's probably
most brutal dance, the Choopy-dance. It's really takes your breath away. As a
guest he was honoured several times by being dressed up in the
nomads' traditional costumes. They served him tea, delicious
food and took care of their best as best they could. Everything happened naturally. Stein
Morten just had to wait for the unexpected.
|
Photo. The moviemaker, Stein Morten, was
honoured to be dressed up in the Bakhtiyaris (Bactrians) traditional
costumes.
I was so proud wearing this costumes and I felt really good.
Today the Iranian nomads live on the
edge in many ways. They are a brave people who live in a harsh, but
beautiful landscape. |
 |
During their
yearly migrations they wander thousand of kilometres. They cross deep valleys,
wild rivers, high and steep mountains. Such hardship is amazing. Nothing can
stop them.
Their dream
about independence and freedom is still real. They have survived two revolutions
in Iran last
century, and now they struggle to survive
encountering new challenges in their daily life. Their unique traditions are
kept alive by weaving carpets, wearing colourful clothes, singing and dancing to
own music. It's their heart and soul, and this is Stein Morten`s story about.
INTRODUCTION 1:
This is a story about a
great people.
Their life has an ancient
history.
They live in a harsh, but
beautiful landscape, high up in the mountains with
snow-capped peaks.
They have always fought for
independence and freedom.
With their incredible
strength and braveness, they have retained an unique lifestyle and culture.
With their breathtaking
courage and stamina, they still climb and wander thousand of kilometres in a
year.
These migrations are one of
the most hazardous tests of human endurance known to
mankind.
Nothing can stop them! Not
even the deepest valley, the strongest river or the highest mountain.
With their unique kindness
and hospitality, they have always the door open for
visitors.
Their colourful costumes,
rugs and carpets, beautiful music and fascinating dances, make them very
extraordinary.
To this day their dream
about independence and freedom is still real!
These people are really
something.
They are the
nomads of the
Iran!!!
INTRODUCTION
2:
This movie is made as a
tribute to the Iranian people in general, especially the brave and nice people I
met high up in the Iranian mountains. They were the Bakhtyari, Luri and Qashqai
Nomads. We had a really good time together, and I wish to thank you from the
bottom of my heart for your unique hospitality.
END:
This movie is dedicated to
the Iranian people in general, especially the Iranians
nomads. I send my best greetings to them I met:
the Bakhtyari, Luri and Qashqai Nomads. I can ensure you: you will never be
forgotten! You are the real heroes of the world!!!
LYRICS FROM MAIN
SONGS:
You'll Never Walk Alone
(Gerry
and the Peacemakers)
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high,
And don't be afraid of the dark,
At the end of a storm,
There's a golden sky,
And the sweet silver song of a lark,
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and
blown,
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your
heart,
And you'll never walk alone,
You'll never walk alone.
WHAT A WONDERFUL
WORLD
(George Weiss / Bob Thiele)
- Performed by Louis Armstrong
I see trees of
green, red roses too
I see them bloom
for me and you
And I think to
myself, what a wonderful world
I see skies of
blue and clouds of white
The bright
blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to
myself, what a wonderful world
The colours of
the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the
faces of people going by
I see friends
shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really
saying "I love you"
I hear babies
cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn
much more than I'll ever know
And I think to
myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to
myself, what a wonderful world
Oh
yeah
Technical details:
Release
date: 15 October 2004
Genre: Travel documentary.
Media
Type: Colour.
Format:
Movie full
version: Wide Screen - MPEG (DVD).
Trailer (video
clip): Windows Media Player and MPEG (DVD).
Produced and directed
by
Stein Morten Lund
- A Norwegian Viking and
Adventurer
Travel
Explorations
Hosle, Norway
www.TravelExplorations.com
stein@TravelExplorations.com
Copyright
Stein Morten Lund
Travel
Explorations
Hosle, Norway
www.TravelExplorations.com
stein@TravelExplorations.com
Starring
Stein Morten Lund
- A Norwegian Viking and
Adventurer
Credit - a list of persons
who contributed to this film:
Ali Hussein
Manoochehri - Pars Tourist
Agency (P.T.A),
Shiraz, Iran
Amir
Manoochehri - Pars Tourist
Agency (P.T.A),
Shiraz, Iran
Music
·
Iranian music
·
You'll never walk alone
·
Wonderful world
·
Queen
·
Are you ready?
·
Stormtrooper
·
And more
Related movies
The Bakhtiary
nomads and their yearly migration across the Persian landscapes and
their incredible psychical and physical efforts seem to have been fascinating
enough to become a subject for two now classic films made by
Hollywood Directors.
The First
Grass: A Nations Battle for Life
(1925).
This black/white
film was made by the future producer of "King Kong", the Hollywood pioneer
Merian C. Cooper.
"People of the
Wind" (1975),
This documentary
film was narrated by James Mason. It become Oscar nominated in 1976. With the
title "People of the Wind" this
documentary become shot in colours in 1975 and released in 1976. When the crew
filmed they were allowed to focus on one particular tribesman leader of the
Babahdi tribe. He words was translated into English and read by the actor James
Mason.
In the western
part of Iran the
Bakhtiari tribe must make an annual 8-week, 200 mile trip to the mountain summer
pastures. In this migration 500,000 men, women and children cross the Zagros
Mountains with all their livestock (one million animals) and possessions, a
range which is as high as the Alps and as broad as Switzerland.
Payvand (Iranian
Directory and Information
Center): For more
information about these movies click on the link: http://www.payvand.com/news/03/jan/1143.html
Both films are
available for ordering on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/home/home.html/002-7860511-4493662
Information
about other Iranian films is found on Payvand: http://payvand.com/film
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