Once Upon a Time, Cinema

'Naser al-din Shah, Actor of Cinema') is a 1992 Iranian comedy fantasy film written and directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf.

Made in black-and-white (with a brief colour sequence), it parodies many of the conventions of silent slapstick comedy and early fantasy films.

Transported to the Shah by being sent down his harem slide, Golnar rejects him and attempts to escape, leading to a slapstick chase-scene.

The Shah talks to him about using him against his enemies and confesses that his one true love in the harem was killed by his other jealous wives.

Meanwhile, disturbed by the disruptive power of cinema, the Shah's advisors meet to discuss how to censor this dangerous medium.

The Shah asks the cinematographer to turn him into Jafar, the hero of Lor Girl, to win Golnar's love.