Naser Mojtahed

My passion for cinema began in high school. Though I followed family tradition enrolling in medical school at the University of Tehran, I continued to maintain and expand my exposure to cinema by watching movies and reading about them. Both helped me to develop a deeper understanding of the medium. At the same time, I began to translate film reviews and analytical articles on cinema from English-language periodicals for various magazines and newspapers. Following the launch of the Tehran Film Festival in 1972, I was asked to contribute to the festival's magazine by writing film criticism, which gradually expanded to other areas of cinema, thereby establishing my voice in the cinematic discourse. During this period, I translated "Underworld USA," a study of the gangster genre. I also completed translating the second edition of Robin Wood's "Hitchcock films," which could not be published given the country's environment.

In 1988, I left Iran to follow the practice of gastroenterology in the United States. Despite the heavy demands of the medical profession, my dedication to cinema never wavered. I continued watching films extensively, recording my thoughts while raising new questions as I repeatedly watched them. Over time, these notes evolved into essays, ultimately forming the foundation of the current book.