“Land of Dreams” Shiela Vand, Matt Dillon Directed by Shirin Neshat
Shirin Neshat Builds a Land of Dreams
(Shirin Neshat and Shiela Wand)
The process of making Land of Dreams was a surreal one, befitting a tale about an Iranian stealing dreams from New Mexican locals for research. Neshat drove from New York and shot the film in seven weeks with a small crew, right before the second wave of the pandemic reached the Southwest, all while “getting people to believe in a film which was about America but made from the perspective of an Iranian American director.”
Shiela Vand was the girl walks home alone directed by Ana Lily Amirpour
Shirin & Matt Dillon 
Isabella Rossellini spoke about “Land of Dreams”
Then, Shoja, your partner, wrote this film Land of Dreams with Jean-Claude Carrière. So, there was a further connection with close friends and collaborators and now, we are family.
SHIRIN NESHAT: I’ve also known of you for many years – from your work as a model, then as an actor in Blue Velvet (1986). I was a huge fan. When we started to socialize, I always wondered if I could have the honor to work with you. I was waiting for the opportunity and then came Land of Dreams. The day we finished filming you, we sent a video message to Jean-Claude,who was on his deathbed. He sent a message back and two days later he passed away.
Script by Jean Claude Carriere (Previous post)
(Photo of Matt Dillon by Masatoshi Nagase)
Happy birthday Matt Dillon! (Feb 18)