An actor’s job is to fully represent the character they are playing and to convince their audience that character is real by engaging them and drawing them into the story. This applies to major roles and smaller parts, as all roles combine to create a successful production. There are many ways to get into character and actors often research the jobs, hobbies, or activities of the characters they play so they are able to put themselves in that frame of mind. Physical appearance can be important in creating a character as well, and actors will often lose or gain weight, or change their hair colour to physically create the character they are playing.
Taghvā’i’s entry into cinema began with documentaries in the 1960s — a period when Iranian filmmakers were turning away from commercial “filmfarsi” and seeking more truthful, poetic representations of life. His early documentaries such as Arbaeen and Nayeb displayed a fascination with real people and authentic landscapes. This documentary discipline never left him; even in his most stylized works, he retained a sensitivity to natural rhythm, gesture, and silence.
