“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
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)