As the Museum of Fine Arts, Houstonยs annual Iranian Film Festival demonstrates, the Islamic Republic has developed a thriving industry of well-produced, well-financed and professionally written films. And wherever there is a mainstream movie scene, thereยs a slinky art-house underground. So, while the MFAH is offering the best mainstream films, the Aurora Picture Show is delving into the underground with a screening of Analyzing While Waiting (for Time to Pass): Contemporary Art in Tehran, the first ยissueย of DVD magazine Treibsand. Compiled by Swiss art curator Susann Wintsch and Iranian–German visual artist Parastou Forouhar, the video-art program features more than a dozen works from the Iranian film sceneยs more experimental minds. These include Amirali Ghasemiยs Coffee Shop Ladies, an examination of women in public places in Iran, and Barbad Golshiriยs What Has Befallen Us, Barbad?, a look at Golshiriยs entry into the army. 8 p.m. today and 3 p.m. tomorrow. 800 Aurora Street. For tickets and information, call 713-868-2101 or visit www.aurorapictureshow.org. $6.
Sat., Feb. 9, 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 10, 3 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Feb 7-13, 2008.