Watch the Director of ‘Rehearsals for a Revolution’ at Art of the Doc

Pegah Ahangurani’s “Rehearsals for a Revolution” is one of the most powerful films of the year, combining fifty years of Iranian history with the director’s own personal story of exile in London. It’s all one powerful tapestry that begins with one word: “Yad.”

The Persian word for memory and remembrance ties the entire film together, allowing Ahangurani and editor Arash Ashtiani to weave together timelines with the idea that memory is its own form of revolution. At our Art of the Doc event in Los Angeles, the two sat down with IndieWire editor-in-chief Brent Lang for a wide-ranging conversation that began with the film’s opening statement.

“I wanted to emphasize the act of remembering, because the main idea of ​​my film is about remembering,” said Ahangurani. “I grew up in Iran and I have lived there all my life, and I know very well that the authors, including the one in Iran, are not only censoring people. They mourn.

Watch the full conversation in the video above.

National Geographic Documentary Films, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, is committed to introducing premier documentaries that cover timely, inspiring and relevant stories from around the world from the best documentary filmmakers. The award-winning and critically acclaimed films reach 300 million people worldwide in 180 countries and 33 languages ​​across the National Geographic global channels and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu.

Recent films include the Emmy nominated winner of the IDA Award for Best Feature “The Tale of Silyan;” Oscar® and Peabody nominee “Sugarcane;” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President;” Oscar nominee and Peabody Award winner Emmy Award winner “Lost In The Jungle;” “Fire of Love;” Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Emmy and Peabody Award Winner “The Territory;” BAFTA nominees “The Rescue” and “Becoming Cousteau;” and Oscar and BAFTA winner “Free Solo”. For more information visit films.nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook,TwitterInstagram, and YouTube.