“Khastegi” (“Tedium”), a controversial movie about transsexuals in Tehran, is playing in the cutting-edge Horizons section of the Venice Film Fest.
Tedium, a first feature by Bahman Motamedian, centers on seven transsexuals contending with Iranian society and its precepts and tradition of patriarchy.
Making a film about transsexuals and their problems in Iran was a difficult task, said Motamedian in a statement. And it became something of a challenge, as I could see myself more as a fighter than as a filmmaker, added the helmer, who is a graduate of Irans Experimental Theater Institute.
The late addition of Tedium was caused by censorship issues.
The other still secret Venice Horizons title is expected to be from China, where the Olympics have held up the censorship process.
The 65th Venice Film Festival will open August 27 with Joel and Ethan Coens spy comedy Burn After Reading and run through September 6.
