One of Kiarostami’s newest films Certified Copy has been banned in his native country of Iran.  Interestingly enough the film is the first Kiarostami has shot outside of Iran.  Certified Copy takes place in Italy and stars the always wonderful Juliette Binoche as a French art dealer who meets a British author in Italy when he is at a conference to discuss art and copies of art.  The two travel and explore love.

Apparently THR is reporting that the Iranian Cultural Ministry aren’t allowing Certified Copy to show in theaters  - meaning that Iranians will have to go the underground route if they desire to see the latest from their country’s master.

Also of note when it comes to Kiarostami is that another new film of his is set to hit the world at the Venice Film Festival.  Shirin, which will premiere this September, features “112 Iranian actresses and Juliette Binoche are shot watching a 12th-century Persian play, with the play’s performance itself kept entirely offscreen.”

And while this might not sound exciting to most, I don’t think it is possible for me to be more excited.

*photo by ledoux.david (CC)