It’s been much longer than I promised to be away, but it’s as good a time as any to write something here. I was extremely shocked when relatives contacted me earlier this evening to tell me about the death of Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and his wife Vahideh Mohammadifar. There will likely be more information in the coming days, but reports say they were killed in their home.
His film Gav (The Cow, 1968) is beloved by many people, and also happens to be the subject of a chapter of my book. It’s a film that weirdly took a long time to work its magic on me; maybe too many people made grandiose claims about it. But it is a very rich and moving film, with a lot of subtlety that isn’t immediately apparent. It saddens me deeply to think the mind behind it, and so many other works, and really such a brave person—as all those who hope and create in the midst of darkness are— died in such a terrible way.
Rest in peace.
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A lot of people are in pain right now. Deep pain and suffering, fear and lack of hope. I don’t have anything that I can offer here, except to share that I believe we need to turn to our pain. A recent email from a beloved meditation and Non-Violent Communication teacher shared this message—“that it is only when we turn to our own suffering and learn to be with it that we can recognize it in others, and commit to reducing it.”
I wish safety, health, and ease to all.
With love.