Mehrdad Ahankhah
Actor
About Mehrdad Ahankhah
Mehrdad Ahankhah is not a classic cinema personality from the silent era or Golden Age of Hollywood. He was a real person who appeared as himself in Abbas Kiarostami's acclaimed Iranian film 'Close-Up' (1990). The film documented the true story of Hossein Sabzian, an unemployed film buff who impersonated director Mohsen Makhmalbaf and convinced the Ahankhah family that he would make a film with them. Mehrdad Ahankhah was part of this family and participated in the film's unique blend of documentary and fiction. His appearance in 'Close-Up' represents his only known film credit, as he was not a professional actor but rather a participant in this groundbreaking cinematic experiment. The film became internationally recognized as a masterpiece of Iranian cinema, though Ahankhah himself did not pursue a career in filmmaking.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared as himself in 'Close-Up' (1990)
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Mehrdad Ahankhah's participation in 'Close-Up' contributed to one of the most innovative films in cinema history. The film's unique approach of having real people reenact their own experiences created a new form of documentary-fiction hybrid that influenced filmmakers worldwide. His authentic presence in the film helped blur the boundaries between reality and cinema, raising questions about truth, performance, and the nature of documentary filmmaking.
Lasting Legacy
While Mehrdad Ahankhah himself did not have an extensive film career, his contribution to 'Close-Up' became part of cinema history. The film is studied in film schools worldwide and is considered a masterpiece of world cinema. His involvement represents the power of ordinary people to create extraordinary art when given the opportunity to participate in innovative filmmaking.
Who They Inspired
As a non-actor who appeared in a groundbreaking film, Ahankhah's performance influenced how filmmakers think about authenticity and the use of non-professional actors. His natural presence in 'Close-Up' demonstrated the power of real people playing themselves, a technique that has been adopted by many documentary and fiction filmmakers since.
Off Screen
Mehrdad Ahankhah was a member of the Ahankhah family who became involved in the real-life incident documented in 'Close-Up'. The family was deceived by Hossein Sabzian, who pretended to be famous Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. After the deception was revealed, director Abbas Kiarostami approached the family to participate in his film about the incident.
Did You Know?
- Mehrdad Ahankhah was not a professional actor but a real person who agreed to appear in the film about his family's experience
- He appeared in 'Close-Up' alongside his actual family members, including his mother and brother
- The film 'Close-Up' won numerous international awards and is considered one of the greatest films of all time
- Abbas Kiarostami paid the Ahankhah family the money that Sabzian had promised them for the fictional film
- The film was shot on location at the Ahankhah family's actual home
- Mehrdad Ahankhah has no other known film credits besides 'Close-Up'
- The film's success brought international attention to Iranian cinema
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mehrdad Ahankhah?
Mehrdad Ahankhah was an Iranian man who appeared as himself in Abbas Kiarostami's acclaimed 1990 film 'Close-Up'. He was not a professional actor but a real person who participated in this documentary-fiction hybrid about his family's experience being deceived by a man impersonating director Mohsen Makhmalbaf.
What films is Mehrdad Ahankhah best known for?
Mehrdad Ahankhah is only known for his appearance in 'Close-Up' (1990), which became an internationally acclaimed masterpiece of Iranian cinema. This was his only film credit.
When was Mehrdad Ahankhah born and when did he die?
Specific birth and death dates for Mehrdad Ahankhah are not publicly available. He was an Iranian citizen who appeared in the 1990 film 'Close-Up' as a member of the Ahankhah family.
What awards did Mehrdad Ahankhah win?
Mehrdad Ahankhah personally did not receive any awards, but the film 'Close-Up' in which he appeared won numerous international awards including prizes at Cannes, Tokyo, and other film festivals. The film is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.
What was Mehrdad Ahankhah's acting style?
Mehrdad Ahankhah did not employ an acting style as he was not a professional actor. He appeared as himself in 'Close-Up', bringing authenticity to the film by reenacting real events from his family's life. His natural presence contributed to the film's groundbreaking documentary-fiction approach.
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Films
1 film
