Sound and scenes from south of Iran. The story of a musician omitted from society, who inspired a generation by songs of freedom, love and pain.
"Chicheka Lullaby" is a music and anthropological documentary. It pictures the life story of the influential musician of south of Iran, Ebrahim Monsefi. He was an alternative artist in challenge with his society who lived a creative life with a strong sense of humor combined with depression. He died 20 years ago in poverty and drug addiction but created 100s of lyrics and recorded more than 200 songs with a small cassette player. He traveled spreading the message of love and freedom and inspired many with his words, voice and guitar. Today's musicians are covering his songs but his story has never been told. The film not only archives a collection of traditional music and contemporary fusion but also opens up a window to south of Iran, showing the people's culture and lifestyle.
This documentary is not pictured through the exotified perspective of an outsider, but rather through the eyes and camera of a woman with the same origin, who speaks and understands the local dialect and has lived among them for years. "Chicheka Lullaby" is a completely independent documentary. It's a research and preservation project. I traveled throughout the region for 4 years with a backpack, small camera and a sound recorder and managed to complete the entire production process of this film i.e. research, shooting, sound recording, interviews, editing, by myself. In the process of completing this project, I also gathered, digitized and archived much of Hormozgan's scattered musical and literary heritage (videos, cassettes, photos, hand-written notes and poems) which were in danger of being lost forever. The post-production was funded through a successful Kick-starter campaign.I've dedicated years to this film. It was always my dream to be able to document and record what is left of the old culture of my grandparents, the culture that is gradually changing and fading. The fact that I started my career as a music researcher also unconsciously drew me into the musical aspect of the story. But more important than all is that Ebrahim Monsefi, the main character of this film was omitted and deleted from the art scene of his society. I couldn't sympathize more as I too am an artist who was never allowed the freedom to express by my own society. Not only were none of my films ever screened in Iran, but I was also detained for being a researcher, journalist and filmmaker. This makes the film almost autobiographical, not only for me, but generations of Iranian artists. "Chicheka Lullaby" not only tells the story of one man's life, but is a portrait of a society.
