Pablo, Catrina Paula Beatriz P. 07/14/1511416327 HUMAART – Final PaperThis Is Not a Film by Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb

According to Global Internet Liberty Campaign (n.d.), film censorship is where films are examined to control information and ideas that is spread throughout society. The government bans motion pictures that for them seem to be controversial and uncertainly moral. This is done to restraint and suppress any kind of idea that would put an upheaval to the audience. Moreover, This Is Not a Film, is a film, despite of its name, that shows how censorship works in various countries which in this case, the film takes place in Iran. It was mentioned in the film that Panahi was banned on film-making for 20 years. Since he was banned, he decided to document his life as a deprived filmmaker with the help of Mirtahmasb and instead he explained the scenarios on his supposed to be next film. This film was said to be hidden in a flash drive inside a birthday cake for it to be exported out of Iran. The film can be considered as an inspiration to some as it compels other moviemakers to produce such films that displays the truth on different public incidents.

The film is not like any other film as it is a movie that appears to be raw, Panahi only read the script to the audience and showed how the different scenes would be like to the audience. He tries to further demonstrate the plot of the movie which is a girl who wants to commit suicide and was locked at home by her father because she wasn’t allowed to go to a university. He continued to share his artistic vision to the world despite of the consequences, as said in the movie by his lawyer that he would probably be sent to prison. Even though he appears to be frustrated because of the struggle of explaining the movie without the help of actors, crew and everything needed to create a movie. He has shown the restrictions brought to him when filmmaking such as saying cut which Mirtahmasb reminds him that that is not allowed and he is not allowed to hold a camera because that is also a form of directing. He being the director made him an actor of his own movie. It displays how other countries deprive filmmakers by creating such footage that would enlighten the viewers on the happenings in the world today. Nevertheless, Panahi still tried to bring change to the Iran film industry by making it available for others to see.

Jafar Panahi has named the film as This Is Not a Film, clearly telling the audience that the movie he has created is certainly not a film. I think that he stated that because as mentioned earlier, this film is different from other films. It is an unusual documentary that tells the story of the film that has

been censored by the government. Although for me, I still assume that the video diary he has made is indeed a film. In consonance with Mashable (n.d.), a film is a motion picture that conveys a story through moving pictures. In what Jafar has made, he did not fail to tell a story about how a filmmaker is restricted from creating an eye-opening movie by showing videos and a documentary of his life in a week. Jafar presented the process on how he tried to make a movie that is not a movie that wouldn’t make him go back to jail.

This is not a film has made me think that not everything you see in movies is everything. Because of censorship, directors and producers of movies are given limitations when making a film. It has also made me think how many movies are not made available to the public and the changes those censored movies would have made to today’s society. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what more if it is a continuous moving picture. A movie can explain further what a picture is lacking. It has shown me the various capabilities a single movie can make towards issues and controversies. Movies can cause a major change depending on the story it is trying to convey and it is able to exhibit and expound overlooked problems and crisis to viewers. Although, not everything you witness or see can be made into movie because there are certain institutions that suppresses the information you want to circulate to the public. Film has been a part of our culture and history and it has gained importance to humanity itself. All types of films never failed to expose and convey strong messages that has made an evident impact to society. I also believe that these such films will continue to develop, influence and connect to the public and show progress to humanity.

Film censorship has restricted filmmakers to make genuine films about certain controversies that institutions does not allow to be seen by the public. Film has proven importance to our century as it gives impact and influence to society. Jafar Panahi shows how film censorship affects a filmmaker create certain films. It has also influenced some producers to create such films that would make a certain significance to the film industry. Panahi has faced limitations and consequences but made his movie possible to see for the public to give a glimpse of what it is like in the Iranian cinema industry. This Is Not a Film has let the public see the reality in filmmaking and did not fail to enlighten other people.