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The couple was discovered lifeless, victims of multiple stab wounds to the neck, in their residence located in Karaj, a major city approximately forty kilometers from the capital, Tehran. According to information provided by the chief of justice for the Alborz Province, Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi, Dariush Mehrjui had sent a message to his daughter, Mona, around 9 PM, inviting her for dinner. However, when she arrived approximately an hour and a half later, she made the horrifying discovery.
Local police have already identified four suspects, with two of them in custody. Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding this double murder remain shrouded in mystery, as there was no evidence of forced entry into the house. Authorities have, however, indicated that they have uncovered potential clues linked to the perpetrator.
Mehrjui was a stalwart of Iranian cinema, serving as a director, producer and screenwriter for six decades. His cinematic work significantly contributed to the global recognition of Iranian cinema, despite the challenges posed by censorship before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Among his most notable works is “The Cow” in 1969, one of the early films of the Iranian New Wave, which garnered the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1971. Following the Islamic Revolution, he spent several years in France, where he directed the docu-fiction “Journey to the Land of Rimbaud.”
In addition to his contributions to cinema, Mehrjui also played a role in translating works by French writer Eugène Ionesco and German Marxist philosopher Herbert Marcuse into Persian. His extensive filmography includes socially conscious works such as “The Tenants” in 1987 and “Hamoun” in 1990, a dark comedy that delves into intellectual concerns against the backdrop of the technological invasion.
During the following decade, Mehrjui created portraits of women in films like “Sara,” “Pari,” and “Leila,” shedding light on various facets of the female experience in Iran. His films, often receiving critical acclaim, were showcased in 2014 at the Forum des Images in Paris during a tribute in his presence.
Minister of Culture Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaïli expressed his sorrow, hailing Mehrjui as “one of the pioneers of Iranian cinema” and “the creator of timeless works.” He also announced his intention to seek further clarification regarding the circumstances of this tragic incident. The passing of Mehrjui leaves an immense void in the world of Iranian cinema and beyond, leaving behind a lasting and influential cinematic legacy.
With AFP