Among his stories are ‘Azar, the Last Month of Autumn’, ‘Hunt for the Shadow’, ‘Secrets of the Treasure of the Jinn Valley’ and ‘The Rooster’. He also translated stories from leading writers such as Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner.
The filmmaker started his film studio Golestan Films in 1957 and produced some documentaries for the National Iranian Oil Company. ‘A Fire’, ‘Hills of Marlik’ and ‘The Crown Jewels of Iran’ are among these films. Golestan also produced the eminent Iranian poetess Forough Farrokhzad’s documentary film ‘The House is Black’.
His debut feature film (1964) was a distinguished work of Iranian cinema at that time and was selected to be screened in the Classics section at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.
Golestan was closely associated with Forough Farrokhzad, whom he met in his studio in 1958, until her death. He was said to have inspired her to live more independently. It could also be said that she inspired him in his artistic vision. He lived in the UK from 1975 until his death.
He is the father of Kaveh Golestan, the late Iranian photojournalist, and Lili Golestan, translator and owner and artistic director of the Golestan Gallery in Tehran.
Source: IBNA