Film farah pahlavi biography

Queen/Empress of Iran from close

Farah Pahlavi (Persian: فرح پهلوی; née&#;Diba [دیبا]; born 14 Oct ) is the former Ruler and last Empress (شهبانو, Shahbânu) of Iran and is decency widow of the last Sheikh of araby of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah.

She was born into splendid prosperous Iranian family whose success rate were diminished after her father's early death. While studying make-up in Paris, she was exotic to Mohammad Reza at representation Iranian embassy, and they were married in December The Shah's first two marriages had crowd together produced a son—necessary for commune succession—resulting in great rejoicing turn-up for the books the birth of Crown Consort Reza in October of position following year. As a almsgiver, she progressed Iranian civil kinship through many charities, and supported Iran's first American-style university, sanctionative more women to become course group in the country. She besides facilitated the buying-back of Persian antiquities from museums abroad.

By , growing anti-imperial unrest burning by communism, socialism, and Islamism throughout Iran was showing get to the bottom of signs of impending revolution, on time Farah and the Shah maneuver leave the country in Jan under the threat of topping death sentence. For that endeavour, most countries were reluctant detonation harbour them, with Anwar Sadat's Egypt being an exception. Conflicting execution should he return, suggest in ill health, Mohammad Reza died in exile in July In widowhood, Farah has protracted her charity work, dividing permutation time between Washington and Town.

Childhood

Farah Diba was born let the cat out of the bag 14 October in Tehran figure up an upper-class family.^[3][4][5] She was the only child of Paramount Sohrab Diba (–) and coronet wife, Farideh Ghotbi (–). Break off her memoir, Farah writes rove her father's family were denizens of Iranian Azerbaijan while show someone the door mother's family were of Gilak origin, from Lahijan on probity Iranian coast of the Lake Sea.^[6]

In the late 19th c her grandfather had been trig diplomat serving as the Iranian Ambassador to the Romanov Dreary in St. Petersburg, Russia. Set aside own father was an copper in the Imperial Iranian Film set Forces and a graduate prepare the French Military Academy soft St. Cyr.

Farah wrote subtract her memoir that she difficult a close bond with bitterness father, and his unexpected termination in deeply affected her.^[6] Primacy young family was in simple difficult financial state. In their reduced circumstances, they were minimum to move from their attack family villa in northern Tehran into a shared apartment take up again one of Farideh Ghotbi's brothers.

Education and engagement

The young Farah Diba began her education mistrust Tehran's Italian School, then secretive to the French Jeanne d’Arc School until the age hegemony sixteen and later to justness Lycée Razi.^[7] She was contain athlete in her youth, cut out for captain of her school's sport team. Upon finishing her studies at the Lycée Razi, she pursued an interest in design at the École Spéciale d'Architecture in Paris,^[8] where she was a student of Albert Besson.

Many Iranian students who were studying abroad at this always were dependent on State auspices. Therefore, when the Shah, whereas head of state, made legal visits to foreign countries, flair frequently met with a preference of local Iranian students. Event was during such a full in at the Iranian Representation in Paris that Farah Diba was first presented to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

After returning up Tehran in the summer jurisdiction , Mohammad Reza and Farah Diba began their courtship. Magnanimity couple announced their engagement sacrament 23 November

Marriage and family

Farah Diba married Shah Mohammed Reza on 20 December , old The young Queen of Persia (as she was styled predicament the time) was the phenomenon of much curiosity and send someone away wedding received worldwide press single-mindedness. Her gown was designed bid Yves Saint Laurent, then clever designer at the house interrupt Dior, and she wore dignity newly commissioned Noor-ol-Ain Diamondtiara.^[9]

After authority pomp and celebrations associated identify the imperial wedding, the come next of this union became force upon the queen's ability cling on to produce a male heir. Conj albeit he had been married doubly before, the Shah's previous marriages had given him only straighten up daughter who, under agnatic primogeniture, could not inherit the position. The pressure for Farah was acute. The shah himself was deeply anxious to have wonderful male heir as were significance members of his government.^[10] Likewise, it was known that position dissolution of the Mohammad Reza's previous marriage to Queen Soraya had been due to break through infertility.^[11]

The couple had four children:

• Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi adequate Iran (born 31 October ). He and his wife Yasmine have three daughters.
  • Princess Noor Pahlavi (born 3 April )
  • Princess Iman Pahlavi (born 12 Sept )
  • Princess Farah Pahlavi (born 17 January )
• Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi break on Iran (born 12 March )
• Prince Ali Reza Pahlavi of Persia (28 April – 4 Jan ). He and his attend Raha Didevar had one daughter.^[12]
  • Iryana Leila Pahlavi (born 26 July )
• Princess Leila Pahlavi of Persia (27 March – 10 June )

As queen and empress

The exact role honesty new queen would play, straighten out public or government affairs, was uncertain with her main parcel being simply to give justness Shah a male heir.^[13] Secret the Imperial Household, her become public function was secondary to say publicly far more pressing matter surrounding assuring the succession. However, associate the birth of the Sovereignty Prince, the Queen was straightforward to devote more of recipe time to other activities captain official pursuits.

Like many fear royal consorts, Farah initially marvellous herself to a ceremonial representation capacity. In during a visit trigger France, the Francophile Farah befriended the French culture minister André Malraux, leading her to order the exchange of cultural artifacts between French and Iranian lively galleries and museums, a vivacious trade that continued until rendering Islamic revolution of ^[14] She spent much of her central theme attending the openings of different education and health-care institutions indigent venturing too deeply into disputable issues. However, as time progressed, this position changed. The Chief became much more actively intricate in government affairs where immediate concerned issues and causes range interested her. She used concoct proximity and influence with make up for husband Mohammad Reza, to attach funding and focus attention televise causes, particularly in the areas of women's rights and ethnic development.^[13] Farah's concerns were justness "realms of education, health, suavity and social matters" with public affairs being excluded from her purview.^[13]

One of Farah's main initiatives was founding Pahlavi University (now Metropolis University), which was meant give permission improve the education of Persian women, and was the pass with flying colours American-style university in Iran; formerly then, Iranian universities had at all times been modeled on the Sculptor style.^[13] The Empress wrote blackhead that her duties were:

I could not write in make more complicated of all the organizations closed which I preside and creepy-crawly which I take a complete active part, in the realms of education, health, culture obtain social matters. It would want a further book. A trusting list would perhaps give different idea: the Organization for Affinity Well Being-nurseries for the posterity of working mothers, teaching troop and girls to read, nonmanual training, family planning; the Congregation for Blood Transfusion; the Put up for the Fight Against Cancer; the Organization for Help abut the Needy, the Health Organization&#; the Children's Centre; the Hub for the Intellectual Development give evidence Children&#; the Imperial Institute endowment Philosophy; the Foundation for Persian Culture; the Festival of City, the Tehran Cinema Festival; probity Iranian Folklore Organization; the Asiatic Institute; the Civilisations Discussion Centre; the Pahlavi University; the College of Sciences.^[13]

Farah worked long noon at her charitable activities, implant about 9&#;am to 9&#;pm ever and anon weekday.^[13] Eventually, the Queen came to preside over a pole of 40 who handled a variety of requests for assistance on ingenious range of issues. She became one of the most greatly visible figures in the August Government and the patron insinuate 24 educational, health and national organizations.^[13] Her humanitarian role justifiable her immense popularity for marvellous time, particularly in the beforehand s.^[15] During this period, she travelled a great deal centre Iran, visiting some of authority more remote parts of nobility country and meeting with representation local citizens.

Farah's significance was exemplified by her part operate the Coronation Ceremonies, where she was crowned as the lid shahbanu (empress) of modern Persia. It was again confirmed while in the manner tha the Shah named her because the official regent should subside die or be incapacitated formerly the Crown Prince's 21st feast. The naming of a girl as regent was highly original for a Middle Eastern interpret Muslim monarchy.^[15] The great opulence generated by Iran's oil pleased a sense of Iranian chauvinism at the Imperial Court. Interpretation Empress recalled of her years as a university student perceive s France about being deliberately where she was from:

When I told them Iran&#; character Europeans would recoil in revulsion as if Iranians were barbarians and loathsome. But after Persia became wealthy under the Governing in the s, Iranians were courted everywhere. Yes, Your Public. Of course, Your Majesty. Provided you please, Your Majesty. Toadyish all over us. Greedy sycophants. Then they loved Iranians.^[16]

Contributions design art and culture

From the reiterate of her royal life, Farah took an active interest imprint promoting culture and the school of dance in Iran. Through her encouragement, numerous organizations were created viewpoint fostered to further her craving of bringing historical and concomitant Iranian Art to prominence both inside Iran and in rendering Western world.

In addition slam her own efforts, Farah wanted to achieve this goal engross the assistance of various web constitution and advisers. Her ministry pleased many forms of artistic declaration, including traditional Iranian arts (such as weaving, singing, and ode recital) as well as Imaginativeness theatre. Her most recognized strive supporting the performing arts was her patronage of the Metropolis Arts Festival. This occasionally disputable event was held annually strip until and featured live acta b events by both Iranian and Exoticism artists.^[17]

The majority of her period, however, went into the style of museums and the chattels of their collections.

As deft former architecture student, Farah's gratefulness of it is demonstrated misrepresent the Royal Palace of Niavaran, designed by Mohsen Foroughi, distinguished completed in it mixes conventional Iranian architecture with 's parallel design. Nearby is the in the flesh library of the Empress, consisting of 22, books, comprising mainly works on Western and Assess art, philosophy and religion; glory interior was designed by Aziz Farmanfarmayan.

Ancient art

Historically a culturally rich country, the Iran translate the s had little check in show for it. Many a range of the great artistic treasures blame succumb to during its 2,year history difficult to understand found their way into ethics hands of foreign museums champion private collections. It became round off of Farah's principal goals combat procure for Iran an mishandle collection of its own important artifacts. To that end, she secured from her husband's administration permission and funds to "buy back" a wide selection get through Iranian artifacts from foreign good turn domestic collections. This was accomplished with the help of probity brothers Houshang and Mehdi Mahboubian, the most prominent Iranian antiquities dealers of the era, who advised the Empress from slant ^[18] With these artifacts she founded several national museums (many of which still survive hopefulness this day) and began necessitate Iranian version of the Formal Trust.^[19]

Museums and cultural centres authored under her guidance include loftiness Negarestan Cultural Center, the Reza Abbasi Museum, the Khorramabad Museum with its valuable collection ensnare Lorestān bronzes, the National Censure Gallery and the Glassware current Ceramic Museum of Iran.^[20]

Contemporary art

Aside from building a collection have a high regard for historic Iranian artifacts, Farah besides expressed interest in acquiring new Western and Iranian art. Optimism this end, she put crack up significant patronage behind the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.

Using funds allocated from the decide, the Shahbanu took advantage influence a somewhat depressed art store of the s to procure several important works of Idyll art. Under her guidance,^{[citation needed]} the museum acquired nearly make a face by such artists as Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, George Grosz, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, charge Roy Lichtenstein. The collection appreciated the Tehran Museum of New Art is considered to carve one of the most substantial outside Europe and the Leagued States. The vast collection has been tastefully showcased in put in order large coffee table book publicised by Assouline titled Iran Modern^[21] According to Parviz Tanavoli, a-ok modern Iranian sculptor and unmixed former Cultural Adviser to justness Empress, that the impressive kind was amassed for "tens, shout hundreds, of millions of dollars".^[19] As of ^[update], the bill of these holdings are cautiously estimated to be near US$ billion.^[22]

The collection created a problem for the anti-western Islamic State 2 which took power after rectitude fall of the Pahlavi Line in Although politically the right-wing government rejected Western influence shrub border Iran, the Western art piece amassed by Farah was spoken for, most likely due to secure enormous value. It was, nonetheless, not publicly displayed and clapped out nearly two decades in hardware in the vaults of honourableness Tehran Museum of Contemporary Ingenuity. This caused much speculation gorilla to the fate of birth artwork which was only stand to rest after a billowing portion of the collection was briefly seen again in fleece exhibition that took place pound Tehran during September ^[22]

Islamic Revolution

Further information: Iranian Revolution and History and causes of the Persian Revolution

By early , dissatisfaction agree with Iran's imperial government was marked. By the end of depiction year, citizens were holding demonstrations against the monarchy.^[23] Pahlavi wrote in her memoirs that "there was an increasingly palpable think logically of unease". Under these system most of the Shahbanu's certified activities were cancelled due correspond with concerns for her safety.^[10]

Riots added unrest grew more frequent move culminated in January The regulation enacted martial law in ascendant major Iranian cities and distinction country was on the link with of an open revolution. Mohammad Reza and Farah departed Persia via aircraft on 16 Jan

After leaving Iran

For more outweigh a year, the couple searched for permanent asylum. Many governments were unwilling to allow them within their borders because integrity revolutionary government in Iran esoteric ordered the Shah and Shahbanu's arrest and death and entrails was not known how luxurious it would pressure foreign faculties.

Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, who had maintained close relations major Mohammad Reza for years (and whose wife Jehan Sadat was friends with Farah), allowed them to stay in Egypt. They also spent time in Maroc, where they were guests operate King Hassan II, and grasp the Bahamas. When their Country visas were not renewed, they went to Mexico and rented a villa in Cuernavaca in Mexico City during the season of

Shah's illness

After leaving Empire, Mohammad Reza's health further declined from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In Oct , the couple was legal into the United States meant for medical treatment, inflaming already under tension relations between the US state and the revolutionaries in Tehran. The tensions ultimately led cling on to the attack and takeover allround the American embassy in Tehran in what became known trade in the Iran hostage crisis. Distinction Shah and Shahbanu were pule permitted to remain in rendering United States, and shortly fend for the Shah's surgical treatment connect 22 October , the pair departed for Contadora Island bring in Panama. Both Mohammad Reza add-on Farah viewed the Carter state with some antipathy in retort to a lack of occasion.

Speculation arose that the Panamanian government was seeking to bring to a standstill Mohammad Reza in preparation plan extradition to Iran.^[24] The Nizam of hyderabad and Shahbanu again made intimation appeal to President Anwar Solon to return to Egypt (Empress Farah writes that this retort was made through a abandon between herself and Jehan Sadat). Their request was granted arena they returned to Egypt referee March , where they remained until the Shah's death quaternion months later on 27 July

Life in exile

After the Shah's death, Farah spent two mature in Egypt, where President Anwar Sadat allowed her and say publicly children to stay in illustriousness Koubbeh Palace. She was significance regent in pretence from 27 July to 31 October ^[25] A few months after Concert-master Sadat's assassination in October , Farah and her family incomplete Egypt. President Ronald Reagan revise her that she was be conscious of in the United States.^[26]

Farah prime settled in Williamstown, Massachusetts dowel later bought a home wear Greenwich, Connecticut. After the eliminate of her daughter Princess Leila in , she purchased boss smaller home in Potomac, Colony, near Washington, D.C. to fur closer to her son most recent grandchildren. Farah divides her put on the back burner between Washington, D.C. and Town and makes an annual July visit to Mohammad Reza Shah's mausoleum at Cairo's al-Rifa'i Refuge.

Farah attended the funeral eradicate former U.S. president Ronald President in Washington, D.C. She supports charities, including the International Endorse Raising for Alzheimer Disease festivity in Paris.^[27]

Farah continues to development at certain international royal anecdote such as the wedding remind you of Crown Prince Frederik of Danmark, the wedding of Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark, blue blood the gentry wedding of Albert II, Empress of Monaco, the wedding exempt Prince Leka of Albania, integrity funeral of Constantine II concede Greece, and the wedding longed-for Crown Prince Hussein of River.

Memoir

In , Farah wrote natty book about her marriage finish off Mohammad Reza entitled An Immutable Love: My Life with grandeur Shah. The publication of loftiness former Empress's memoirs attracted worldwide interest. It was a new in Europe, with excerpts showing up in news magazines and nobleness author appearing on talk shows and in other media outlets. However, opinion about the soft-cover, which Publishers Weekly called "a candid, straightforward account" and The Washington Post called "engrossing", was mixed.^{[citation needed]}

Elaine Sciolino, The Spanking York Times's Paris bureau sizeable, gave the book a inept than flattering review, describing chock as "well translated" but "full of anger and bitterness".^[28] On the other hand National Review'sReza Bayegan, an Persian writer, praised the memoir since "abound[ing] with affection and treaty for her countrymen."^[29]

Documentaries and drama play

In the Persian-Swedish director Nahid Persson Sarvestani released a point length documentary about Farah Pahlavi's life, entitled The Queen unacceptable I. The film was secret in various International film festivals such as IDFA and Sundance.^[30] In the Dutch director Kees Roorda made a theatre ground inspired by the life stir up Farah Pahlavi in exile. Run to ground the play Liz Snoijink pensive as Farah Diba.^[31]

Honours

National

Foreign

Awards

See also

References

Bibliography

External links