Santouri (film)

Santouri known as The Music Man in English, in Persian is a 2007 Iranian drama film directed by Dariush Mehrjui dealing with the life of a santour player named Ali Bolourchi. The films title, Santouri refers to one who can play the santour instrument. It is noteworthy that, in Persian playing the Santour is also the euphemism for injecting heroin into ones veins thrashing, for instance, ones arm for causing the main artery of the arm to swell, in preparation for the injection, is reminiscent of playing the santour.

The film begins near the end of the films timeline. Ali Bolourchi, a santour player Bahram Radan narrates his life after his wife Hanieh Golshifteh Farahani left him. Ali now makes a living playing music with his band at weddings and house parties where he is often given drugs instead of money to support his heroin addiction. At one of the weddings in which Ali is playing, a mob opposed to the wedding storm the party, beat the guests, destroy the bands instruments and break Alis arm. The story then flashes back to happier times when Ali and his wife Hanieh are coming up with the lyrics of the song which Ali was singing at the wedding. The film then shows a house party where Ali is performing and his drug use with his friend and bandmate Tamayol Mahyar Pourhessabi are highlighted. At the same party Hanieh meets a musician named Javid Siamak Khahani who invites Hanieh to join a musical group that plays for charities and goodwill events. The film then shows the downfall of Ali and Haniehs marriage caused by Alis increasing drug use as well as his hate for Javid. Ali beats Hanieh and she goes to her mothers Maedeh Tahmasebi house. Hanieh later explains to Javid that Alis tapes and concerts were banned by the government forcing him to play at house parties and weddings to make ends meet, but for payment he was often given drugs and booze instead of money leading to his addiction. Again the film flashes back to happier times, showing how Hanieh and Ali met, their courtship, wedding and the beginnings of their married life.The night after Alis arm is broken he goes to his parents home where he interrupts a large prayer session, begging for money and shouting as a result of not getting his fix. His mother Roya Teymourian calls Alis brother Hamed Nader Soleymani to calm him down. Ali then is visited by his father, Haj Mohsen Bolourchi Masoud Rayegan, a wealthy and conservative member of the bazaar who is shocked to see Ali is now injecting heroin. Alis parents had disowned

Source: Wikipedia