It’s a shame that many people know Iran only as a country of foot-stomping dictators and uranium-enriching scientists. It’s a place of artistic ingenuity, social activism, people as beautiful as the country’s mountains, and orchards. All of this is on display in the four films from the 16th Iranian Film Festival that are screening this weekend at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. There’s a documentary called Arusi Persian Wedding, in which Marjan Tehrani chronicles the experiences of her brother Alex and his American fiancée Heather as they come to Iran for a Persian wedding. Santouri: The Music Man, by veteran Iranian director Dariush Mehrjui, is about a young musician with a talent for the stringed santour — and a taste for heroin. Manijeh Hekmat’s 3 Women and Mohammad Rasoulof’s Head Wind round out the festival’s stint at the museum. After that, it goes to Rice Cinema for a few more days. 1001 Bissonnet. For information and a full schedule, call 713-639-7515 or visit www.mfah.org/films. $6 to $7.

Fri., Jan. 30; Sat., Jan. 31; Sun., Feb. 1, 2009

This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2009.