What happened to Dariush Mehrjui?

Renowned Iranian filmmaker Dariush Mehrjui and his spouse were tragically murdered in their residence by an unidentified attacker, as revealed by state media this Sunday.

The IRNA news outlet cited judiciary representative Hossein Fazeli, who confirmed that Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, were found lifeless with stab wounds on their throats.

It was Mehrjui’s daughter, Mona, who discovered the gruesome scene on Saturday evening during a visit to her parents’ house situated approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) to the west of Tehran.

While the investigation is ongoing, officials have not put forth any potential motives for the crime. However, it was mentioned that Vahideh had previously expressed concerns about a knife-related threat on a digital platform.

Aged 83, Mehrjui was celebrated for pioneering the Iranian film new wave movement during the early 1970s, emphasizing realism. His illustrious career was marked with several accolades, like the Silver Hugo from the 1998 Chicago International Film Festival and the Golden Seashell from the 1993 San Sebastián International Film Festival.

In the 1960s, Mehrjui enhanced his cinematic skills at the University of California, Los Angeles.