Out of Competition
North American Premiere

TRIP TO PARADISE
REIS NAAR HET PARADIJS



Country of production: Netherlands
Year: 2002
Language: Dutch, Persian
Mins: 50

Director: Ben van Lieshout
Script: Ben van Lieshout
Cinematography: Stef Tijdink (N.S.C.)
Editing: Jan Ketelaars
Sound: Ben van Lieshout
Producer: Pieter van Huystee
Production company: Pieter van Huystee Film
Source: Matthijs Koenen
PVH Film
Noordermarkt 37-39
1015 NA Amsterdam
NETHERLANDS
Phone: +31 20 4210606
Fax: +31 20 6386255
matthijs@pvhfilm.nl
www.pvhfilm.nl

In April 2002, director Ben van Lieshout and cameraman Stef Tijdink traveled across Iran, from the caviar of the Caspian Sea to the oil of the Persian Gulf. They travel particularly in search of information about two things: the origins of a cherished rug, and the reasons behind Iran's veneration of martyrs and suicide killers.

Though the late Ayatollah Khomeini still seems to be sincerely worshipped, the popularity of the current leaders is on the wane. Still, though, youngsters are still drawn to the sacrifices of the revolution and the eight-year war with Iraq, which the regime incessantly holds up as an example and a reason for sacrifice. As counterpoint to the terrifying issues of murder and suicide, TRIP TO PARADISE's search for the origin of a rug balances the film.

TRIP TO PARADISE is a wide-ranging, sometimes terrifying and sometimes endearing portrait of Iran and its people.


Ben van Lieshout is a director, screenwriter, and producer. He has won awards at the film festivals of Berlin, Troia, Bergamo, and beyond. The majority of his work is distributed by the Netherlands Film Museum. Mr. van Lieshout is a lecturer at the Utrecht School of the Arts.

filmography as director
ALLOTMENT (2003)
TRIP TO PARADISE (2002)
NIGHT AT THE MALL (2001, screened at CIDF in 2003)
THE ZONE (1999)
THE STOWAWAY (1997)
BUTTERFLY (1995)
PASSENGERS (1991)
SCHUTTING (1989)
THE SHORE (1988)
THE LIGHT OF CADIZ (1983)
FRAMED (1981)

Saturday 10-Apr-2004 7:00 PM Gallery Theatre
Screening with MOTHER/COUNTRY