Love and Devotion:
from Persia and Beyond
This 28 min documentary, filmed over a year – produced, written, directed and shot by Philippe Charluet – developed with the assistance of Film Victoria – was made in collaboration with the State Library of Victoria and Stella Motion Pictures. Filmed in Melbourne, Oxford, Cambridge and Canberra (ANU), with footage from Türkiye.
The long tradition of Persian literature, poetry and Art of the book, with stories of human and divine love, is showcased in an international exhibition curated by Susan Scollay, Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond, an exclusive collaboration between two of the oldest institutions of their kind in their respective countries, the State Library of Victoria and the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford, UK (the exhibition was also shown there).
Traveling across the world for the first time, many rare manuscripts dating from the 13th to 18th centuries are put on display for us to experience the detail and beauty of Persian illumination, calligraphy and poetic stories that date back to antiquity, yet transcend time and place. Within this setting, a precious window is opened – and this documentary offers a unique opportunity to explore this extraordinarily rich cultural past and its dialogue with Western literature.
See also our beautiful film component which was part of the exhibition.
Featured Video: documentary trailer – Can also be downloaded as mp4
(also screened on Foxtel arts channel (Australia) and used as SLV online promotion)
Videos Tab above:
Extended section: the arrival of a precious Persian book at a Melbourne dealer
Documentary trailer with Farsi voice-over (as seen on BBC Persian)
We also have a stunning book for sale
(edited by Susan Scollay)
Producer/Writer/Director
Philippe CHARLUET
In order of appearance
Susan SCOLLAY - Art Historian & Guest Exhibition Co-Curator
Shane CARMODY - State Library of Victoria
Richard OVENDEN - Bodleian Libraries, Oxford
Claire WILLIAMSON - Exhibition Co-Curator - State Library of Victoria
Dr Zahra TAHERI - Australian National University
Prof Amin SAIKAL - Australia National University
Dr Mammad AIDANI - University of Melbourne
Dr Firuza MELVILLE - University of Cambridge
Prof Charles MELVILLE - University of Cambridge
Dr Gillian EVISON - Bodleian Libraries, Oxford
MANUSCRIPTS COURTESY OF
The Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford
The State Library of Victoria
PERSIAN POETRY READING
Mehdi MIRZAEI
SPECIAL THANKS TO
All the people appearing and
Anne-Marie SCHWIRTLICH
The Honourable John CAIN
Robert HEATHER
Fiona WILSON
Jean HOLLAND
Ian COX
Sarah HASELTON
Margot JONES
Caroline PAUSCH
Alasdair WATSON
Steve WARNE
and all the staff of
The State Library of Victoria
& the Bodleian Libraries, Oxford
MUSIC & SONGS
'Les Chants Brûlés' (album)
Ney o Avaze e Bayat (song)
Dar Acheghi (song)
by Alireza GHORBANI
Label, production, édition:
ACCORDS CROISÉS
accords-croises.com
MEHR ENSEMBLE
Daf Solos
Ney Solos
Shahnameh (song)
Conference of the Birds
The Reed (song)
Submission (song)
Ederlezi in Dashti (song)
'Love and Devotion' (album)
Mehdi MIRZAEI - Singer
Samira KARIMI - Singer
Pooya MEHMANPAZIR - Setar/ Tar
Toofan TOGHYANI - Daf/ Ney
NEFES ENSEMBLE
Rachel ATKINSON - Cello Solo
Arya BASTANINEZHAD
Ney solo
PERSIAN TEXT ADVISOR
Dr Zahra Taheri
Australian National University
MAP - CARTOGRAPHY
Chandra JAYASURIYA
Dpt of Resource Management
and Geography
School of Land & Environment
The University of Melbourne
MINIATURE PORTRAIT
of Edward FITZGERALD
by Eva RIVETT-CARNAC
after a photograph of 1873;
National Portrait Gallery, London
DERVISH FOOTAGE
Courtesy of the Turkish Consulate, Melbourne
PHOTOGRAPHS of FIRDAUSI STATUE
Courtesy of Dr Mario CASARI, Rome
For STELLA MOTION PICTURES
Cinematography
Philippe CHARLUET
Sound
Mark TARPEY
Chris IZZARD
Jerry LEEPER
Grip
Richard TURTON
Gaffer
Peter RYAN
Camera Assistant
Daris LAURINS
Editor/ Music Director/ Sound Mix
Philippe CHARLUET