“In the Garden of the Tulips” short.
“In the Garden of Tulips” – This 19 minute 88 second short was the favorite of a friend who had seen it. It is directed by Julia R. Eihu. Julia Eihu’s previous writing/directing credit for “Yasamin” was a nominee for the 2018 Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Film Fest. Ava Lalezarzadeh played Mimi in the production. Ava Lalezarzadeh is the lead actress for “In the Garden of Tulips” and wrote the screenplay, based on her mother’s experience fleeing Iran in 1988. Ava’s mother is Jewish.
CAST
On March 16, 1988, Ava’s mother—here named Catherine— rode with her father Sharif to a location where smugglers would help get Catherine out of Iran. Caroline’s (Ava Lalezarzadeh’s) father is played by Iman Nazemzadeh as Sharif. Once again, a large part (but not all) of the action takes place in the front seat of Sharif’s vehicle as the two travel to the rendezvous point. The father/daughter duo are stopped and interrogated by an Iranian police officer. After the confrontation and the rendezvous, Catherine’s father tells her and the driver not to stop until they reach the United Nations office in Karachi, Pakistan.
AWARDS
Ava Lalezarzadeh “In the Garden of the Tulips” short.
The confrontation with an Iranian policeman, played by Milad Dylan, is intense. The cinematography by Freddie Whitman is adequate, especially since a large portion of the action takes place in the front seat of Sharif’s car. The film won Best Live Action Short Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival, which made it eligible for the Oscars. Ava has appeared as an actress in “The Morning Show,” among other parts and is currently working on a feature-length film based on the story behind “In the Garden of Tulips.”
I’m still working on the reason for the title. There were no tulips.
What are your thoughts?