Abbas Kiarostami
An Iranian poet of the cinema who used deceptively simple stories to explore profound questions of truth, identity, and human connection.
1940–2016 (age 76)·Iranian filmmaker·Birthday: June 22·The Silent Generation
Biography
Abbas Kiarostami didn't just make films; he constructed intricate, philosophical puzzles that invited viewers to become active participants. Beginning his career at the Kanun institute in Tehran, making educational shorts, he developed a minimalist, documentary-like style that would become his signature. His international breakthrough came with the Koker trilogy, films that blurred the lines between fiction and reality, often featuring non-actors and unfolding against the stark, beautiful landscapes of rural Iran. Works like 'Close-Up'—a mesmerizing hybrid about a man impersonating a director—challenged the very nature of storytelling. His Palme d'Or winner, 'Taste of Cherry', was a quiet, existential meditation on life and death that divided critics and cemented his global stature. In his later years, working in Italy and Japan, Kiarostami continued to refine his contemplative vision, proving that his deeply humanist inquiries transcended any single culture or language.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Abbas was born in 1940, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Abbas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1940
#1 Movie
Fantasia
Best Picture
Rebecca
Abbas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1940Born
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1945Started school
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1953Became a teenager
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Could drive
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1958Could vote
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Turned 21
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1970Turned 30
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 40
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 50
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 60
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 70
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2016Died at 76
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
Key Achievements
- Awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 for his film 'Taste of Cherry'.
- Directed the influential 'Koker Trilogy', which includes 'Where Is the Friend's House?', 'And Life Goes On', and 'Through the Olive Trees'.
- His film 'Close-Up' (1990) is frequently cited by critics as one of the greatest films ever made.
- Received the Federico Fellini Gold Medal from UNESCO for his contributions to world cinema.
Did You Know?
He was also an accomplished poet and photographer, publishing several books of his work.
He initially worked as a graphic designer and illustrator before entering filmmaking.
He served as a mentor to a generation of Iranian directors, including Jafar Panahi.
He had a cameo role in the 2010 film 'Certified Copy', playing an unnamed man in a café.
““I prefer the films that put their audience to sleep in the theater. Those films are kind enough to let you have a nap.””
