Rachel Hobson A Love Story from Iran Lyrics

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A Love Story from Iran
February 11, 2008

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Voice 1
Hello. I'm Ruby Jones.

Voice 2
And I'm Rachel Hobson. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 3
'Habib'

Voice 4
'Yes'

Voice 3
'I want you to keep this. When I was ten years old, my father gave it to me. And he said I should only give it to the man who very much...'

Voice 4
'Very much what?'

Voice 1
These are the words from an Iranian television series. Sarah and Habib are falling in love. Sarah gives her father's watch to Habib. When he opens the watch cover, there is a picture of her. Habib is a Palestinian-Iranian. And Sarah is a French Jew. Much of the story takes place in France during World War Two. Under Hitler the n___s have occupied France. They are looking for Jews. They take the Jews away to be killed. But Habib tries to protect Sarah and her family. The television series is called 'Zero Degree Turn'.

Voice 2
In today's Spotlight we tell more of 'Zero Degree Turn'. We tell of the ideas behind it. Can a television series help to create better understanding between Muslims and Jews?

Voice 1
Usually night time in Iran is very busy. People eat in restaurants. They sit and talk in cafes. But for seven months, Monday nights in Iran were very quiet. By ten o'clock almost no one was on the streets. Most people were sitting at home with their families. They had come together to watch television! They were excited to see the next part of 'Zero Degree Turn'.

Voice 2
In the story, Habib's father is from Iran. And his mother is from Palestine. The family has some political connections. So Habib gets permission to go to Paris. He is very excited. But Habib goes to Europe during dangerous times. He does not know how much his life will change.

Voice 1
Habib is accepted into university in Paris. In class he meets the beautiful young woman called Sarah. At first they do not like each other. But Sarah and Habib start to understand that in many ways they are very similar. The two become friends. And soon they feel more than friendship for each other.

Voice 2
Habib gets a job at the Iranian Embassy in Paris to help pay for his education. But around this time, the n___s invade France. As they occupy Paris, problems start for Jews there. Jews are required to wear yellow stars on their clothes. The n___s make them leave their homes. They put them in trucks. They are taking them away to kill them.

Voice 1
Habib is worried about Sarah. He thinks of a way he can help her and her family. Since he works for the embassy, he gets Iranian passports for them. He helps them to leave France for Iran. It is illegal for Habib to do this. So Habib is put in prison.

Voice 2
Finally Habib is permitted to return to Iran. But he is put in jail there too, for the false passports. Sarah also experiences many difficulties. But the love between the two remains strong.

Voice 1
'Zero Degree Turn' is the most expensive television series ever made in Iran. It was filmed in Iran, Paris and Hungary. Hassan Fatthi wrote and directed the series. He is a famous television film director. His work is respected all over the world. Four years ago Mr. Fatthi was reading books about World War Two. He read something very interesting. During World War Two an Iranian embassy official in Paris helped to save many Jews. Abdol Hussein Sardari made many false Iranian passports to help Jews escape. This story gave Mr. Fatthi the idea for 'Zero Degree Turn'.

Voice 2
Some people are very surprised that this series was made in Iran. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has publicly told his beliefs about World War Two. He denies millions of Jews were killed then. Yet this film tells the story of Jews in World War two.

Voice 1
In Iran directors must get government approval before they can make films. The government in Iran is a religious one. It has policies on the kinds of films that can be made. The films must not go against Muslim ideas or rules. The films should not criticize the government. The official policy of Iran is that it opposes the state of Israel. But it does not oppose Jewish people. So, the government approved this television series. And it even gave a lot of money to help make it.

Voice 2
Critics of the government suggest there is a hidden purpose for the television series - to soften the image of Iran to the international community. They believe the government wants to show that Iran does not have a problem with Jews. They say the series shows why millions of Jews left Europe. But it also supports the opinion that the state of Israel should not exist.

Voice 1
Other people believe it does not matter what the purpose of the television series is. They say it is helping to create understanding between Jews and Muslims. Sara Khatibi is a woman who enjoyed the series very much. She said:

Voice 5
'All we ever hear about Jews is anger from the government about Israel. This is the first time we are seeing another side to the story and learning about their troubles.'

Voice 2
There are twenty-five thousand [25,000] Jews living in Iran. This is the largest number of Jews in the Middle East except for Israel. The Iranian constitution promises equal rights to Jews. They are permitted to study in Hebrew schools and follow their religion. The Jewish community is also permitted to have one member in the Muslim Parliament. They must be careful, though, not to anger the government.

Voice 1
For the most part, the Jewish community in Iran likes the television series very much. Before making it, Mr. Fatthi, the series' director, met with the Iranian Jewish a__ociation. He wanted to be sure he was showing Jewish traditions correctly. This group has openly praised the series. And Mr. Fatthi has told of his hopes to bring understanding between communities with his television series. He has talked about his purpose for making it. He has talked about his desire for peace.

Voice 6
'What is a endangering peace is extremist thinking, and political hard-liners that separate people from each other. God created people to love each other regardless of religion. The days that God is very happy are the days that people from different cultures embrace each other.'

Voice 2
'Zero Degree Turn' has become one of the most popular television series in Iran ever. Other countries are interested in broadcasting it too. This television series is creating worldwide interest. It is helping to bring different people together.

Voice 1

Voice 2
If you have comments or questions about our Spotlight programmes you can reach us by email. Our address is radio @ English . net. Until next time, goodbye.