Full Frame Close Up: Persian Puppets Go to China

Full Frame

The ancient art form of shadow play, or shadow puppetry, originated in China. So it’s only natural that “Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic” is currently touring in Shanghai and heading to Beijing later in the month.

“Feathers of Fire” was conceived, designed, and is directed by award-winning filmmaker, designer, and illustrator Hamid Rahmanian, who was born and educated in Iran.

The stage production, which combines puppetry, art, and history, has drawn big, sold-out crowds in the U.S. and around the world. It’s a shadow play for all ages – inspired by the ancient Persian poem “Shahnameh.”

Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola saw “Feathers of Fire” three times during its run in San Francisco and calls it “One of the great epics of all time…brought to life in a spectacular fashion.” Simply put, it’s a show like no other.

Asieh Namdar sat down with Rahmanian in New York City to talk about his passion for the arts, his mission, and his message in this week’s Full Frame Close Up.


Upcoming Performances:

Shanghai: November 11-16 at the Shanghai Theater Academy
Beijing: November 21-25 at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center
Paris: December 9, 12, 15, 16 at the Musée du quai Bran

  • Executive Producer: Monna Kashfi
  • Producer: Kurt Gardinier
  • Cinematography: Peter Stolz, Kuba Wuls, Eric Courtney
  • Video Editor: Kamran Taherimoghaddam
  • Graphics: Akil Alleyne