Against the backdrop of recent events in Iran, the Pahlavi family has also come into prominence. The son of Iran's last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in 1979, and who resides in the USA - Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi - is resorting to every means to seize power in Tehran. However, events are not yet unfolding as he desires, and it seems Reza Pahlavi's dream of coming to power in Iran is also being shattered.
The renewed relevance of the Iran topic and the Pahlavi family in the world press has also brought the Italian-German co-production film "Soraya", shot in 2003, into the spotlight.
The film is a historically based biographical screen adaptation about the marriage of the overthrown Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his second wife Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari.
The film's director is Ludovico Gasparini. Its premiere took place on October 5, 2003.
A scene from the film "Soraya"...
The 3-hour 20-minute two-part film transports the viewer to monarchical Iran in the mid-20th century. Soraya was a young and impressive girl, educated and living in Europe, with uniquely captivating eyes. In the mid-1950s, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi saw her photograph and fell in love. At that time, the Esfandiary-Bakhtiari family, who were living in exile and had problems with the Pahlavis, were pardoned and allowed to return to Iran.
After the Esfandiary-Bakhtiari family returned to Iran, the Shah married Soraya. Soraya, who desired a peaceful life in Iran, found herself in the palace and at the center of political events through this marriage.
On one hand, political events begin in Iran; on the other hand, the monarchical family awaits the birth of a child who will be the heir to the throne and ensure the perpetuation of the monarchy. All of this intertwines with political and palace intrigues, ultimately leading to the separation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Soraya.
In the film, Anna Valle portrayed Soraya, and Erol Zadner played Shah Mohammad. Stoyan Alexiev, Mathilda May, and others also took roles in this screen production.
Film critics note that director Ludovico Gasparini successfully depicted on screen the palace life of the monarchical couple, the country's internal world, and Iran, where historical and political developments intertwined.
Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari was the wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi for 7 years, from 1951 to 1958.
Soraya, who had received a European education, was discovered in London by Princess Shams, the middle sister of the Shah of Iran, who then showed her photograph to her brother.
Prior to that, Shah Mohammad Reza's first wife was Princess Fawzia of Egypt. From this marriage, the Shah had a daughter. After their separation, there arose a need for an heir to the throne.
It was precisely during that period that Princess Shams saw and liked young Soraya in London, believing she would be a good wife for her brother.
After 18-year-old Soraya arrived in Tehran with her family, she became engaged to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and their wedding took place on February 12, 1951.
Although the first months of the marriage were peaceful, both the Shah's family and the country awaited one piece of news – when would an heir be born?
Three years later, in October 1954, Soraya's doctor informed her that her chances of becoming pregnant were very low. This news greatly distressed the Shah's family, who were awaiting an heir.
Due to pressure from the Shah's family and political powers, the couple was forced to separate. Their marriage ended on March 14, 1958.
After the divorce, Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari left the country and sought refuge in Switzerland. However, despite their separation, her former husband, Shah Mohammad Reza, did not cut off financial support to Soraya, and she lived in luxury in Europe.
The victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi also negatively impacted Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari's financial situation. Thus, Iran's new government ceased the financial support allocated by the state to the Shah's former wife.
As a result of the revolution, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had left his homeland and gone into exile, died of cancer on July 27, 1980, at the age of 60, in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.
Soraya Esfandiary-Bakhtiari, however, passed away 21 years after her former husband's death, on October 25, 2001, in Paris.
A.Qorxmaz
