Raving Iran

They call themselves Blade & Beard – two DJs who are making inroads with their own brand of melodic “deep house.” Illegal inroads, that is, as Anoosh and Arash live in Iran, where the moral police have banned all forms of techno or house music. They are nevertheless able to spread their beats thanks to the underground music circuit, but it’s far from easy. They both hunger for a normal life, out in the open – but without having to compromise their musical dreams. The young men know this is only possible outside of Iran. When they receive an invitation to play at the Lethargy techno festival in Zurich, they recognize that the time has come to make a big decision. Susanne Regina Meurs followed Anoosh and Arash from September 2013 to August 2014, during a crucial phase in their lives. She films their life in Tehran, where they are constantly on their guard, and captures them as they experience the freedom of Switzerland. Most of the footage was shot using mobile phones, for reasons of security. The result is a raw but poetic story of two young men at a crossroads in their lives.