Great are the Eyes of a dead Father

Based on Wim Wenders' unique approach and under his mentorship, six Iranian films were created as part of the “A Sense of Place” project. Loss and longing in a sensual story about nostalgia for a place you've never really been. At first glance, the life of painter and poet Patrick Navaï, his wife Sylvie, and their son Yvan, a musician, seems perfect. They live in a medieval village in France, near a forest. Their daily routine consists of painting, making music, reading poetry, and long family hikes in the green hills surrounding their home. But an unfulfilled longing for belonging influences every aspect of Patrick's life. GREAT ARE THE EYES OF A DEAD FATHER was made in 2023 as an international co-production between France, Iran, and Germany. It was directed and edited by Afsaneh Salari. The film was produced with the support of the Wim Wenders Foundation as part of the “A Sense of Place” program, in which six Iranian filmmakers were mentored by Wim and Hella Wenders. The film celebrated its international premiere at Sheffield DocFest and was also shown in the program of the BelDocs Festival in Belgrade. It thus found resonance in renowned platforms for documentary cinema. Split Screens handled the international distribution. Afsaneh Salari is a documentary film director based in Paris and Tehran who studied at the University of Paris 8 and in the DocNomads program. She has participated in IDFAcademy, Berlinale Talents, and La Fémis. Her work has been presented and awarded at Visions du Réel, IDFA, Sheffield DocFest, CPH:DOX, and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.