Ayatollah Khomeini (Culture/History)

Interest in mysticism (e.g. in the writings of Ibn Arabi)... making him somewhat less conservative than the majority of the ulema.



Relevant quotes:
"Cinema is one of the manifestations of culture and it must be put to the service of man and his education" [a pragmatist view towards cinema, wishing to islamicise it rather than ban it]

Censorship (Domestic Reception/Industry)

Post-revolution the arts in Iran were subject to control and guidance by the newly formed Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.


Pre-revolution Iranian cinema in the 1970s was struggling to appeal to domestic audiences, in large part due to the invasion of Hollywood and Indian cinemas. For this reason, the post-revolution ban on much (all? details?) foreign imports was a boon to the growth of Iranian cinema under the Islamic Republic.