Directed by Mehrdad Oskouei Edited by Loghman Khaledi Running time 53 min Director Mehrdad Oskouei Written by Mehrdad Oskouei Editor Loghman Khaledi | Music by Ali Samadpour Release date 2007 (2007) Initial release 2007 Producer Mehrdad Oskouei Cinematography Ashkan Ashkani | |
Produced by Mehrdad Oskouei, Oskouei Film Production Similar Starless Dreams, Day Break, A Dragon Arrives! | ||
It s always late for freedom
It's Always Late for Freedom is a 2008 Iranian documentary directed by Mehrdad Oskouei. The film depicts the life of three teenager boys in Tehran House of Correction. They are portrayed as victims of serious social problems such as addiction, poverty and divorce, which the Iranian society is faced with.
Contents
Festivals and awards
Director’s biography
Independent producer, filmmaker, photographer and researcher. Oskouei was born in Tehran, Iran in 1969. He has a B.A. in film direction from the University of Arts, starting in the theatre in 1981 and the film world in 1988. Most of his films have been shown at various festivals both at home and abroad with many receiving critical acclaim. His films have received over 100 awards from national and international festivals makes him one of the most outstanding Iranian documentary makers. In 2010, Oskouei received the Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands for his achievements.
His film The Last Days of Winter has been released in France in 2013 with successes.
Filmography
Feature Documentary Film
Mid length Documentary Films
Short Documentary Films
Film reviews
By Omid Tofighian
It’s Always Late for Freedom is a film about the most sensitive moments associated with transition and the most potent emotions it evokes. The film is about a ‘rite of passage’ or, more accurately, a ‘baptism of fire’ that three children are initiated through. On a more theoretical level, the film can also be interpreted as a simile expressing the trials and tribulations of societies or nations during the course of progress.
Mehrdad Oskouei’s documentary must not simply be seen as only a tale about the lives of children in a juvenile detention centre. It is also a reflection of some of the most compelling problems faced by individuals as they struggle toward maturity and the strongest emotions felt as they grapple with social and personal evolution. Stages of development and their corresponding emotions are depicted through the experiences of Oskouei’s three protagonists, Vahid, Ali and Sajad. By describing the ordeal of three boys in a house of correction he is simultaneously prescribing possibilities for instilling hope; gaining knowledge through feelings of regret; and understanding the significance of innocence in the face of injustice.