Original subtitles

(bright airy music)

between the great deserts to the east

and the Zagros mountains to the west

lies the former royal city of Isfahan.

Almost nowhere else has the cultural heritage of Persia

remain so vibrant as in this city

on the Zayandeh River.

A young generation is trying

not only to preserve their city's legacy

but also to make a living from it.

It's a big challenge.

But if you can make it in Isfahan, you can make it anywhere.

At least according to the natives.

(light airy music)

30-year-old Shanti Ghafarian

has just opened his first shop in the city center.

He's a third-generation carpet merchant.

[Shanti Interpreter] As a little boy,

I always came home from school to my father's carpet shop.

It was right nearby.

And I wanted to learn all about carpets from him,

how they're woven, where they come from and so on.

Following commercial training

and business studies, Shanti is now his own boss

and employs two workers.

But today they're keeping him waiting.

(phone calls)

[Shanti Interpreter] Hello, Ali.

Good morning.

[Shanti Interpreter] When are you coming?

What? Hello?

[Shanti Interpreter] Right. Hello?

I just asked when you're coming.

I'll be there in five minutes.

I can't hear you very well.

[Shanti Interpreter] Right? Okay.

Please come quickly.

Hurry it up.

Yes, I will. Bye.

Employee Ali turns up.

And now Milad rolls in as well.

[Shanti Interpreter] Hey, Milad.

[Milad Interpreter] I'm still asleep.

[Shanti Interpreter] Oh no. You don't say.

Milad, help Ali with a ladder.

I'm going to quickly finish this up here.

My father warned me: "This shop will rule your life

and take up all your time."

And that's what happened.

I have a 16-hour workday.

I'm in the shop more than I'm at home.

Shanti's shop is open daily

from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

[Shanti Interpreter] The customers who come at night

are especially temperamental.

They say, we have to think about it.

We'll come back tomorrow.

By then we'll have unrolled more than 50 carpets.

And every single one of them weighs four or five kilos.

Yesterday, we had a customer like that.

We showed him one carpet after another,

and then he left without buying one.

Maybe water will bring a bit of luck.

The daily opening of the shop is a ritual

that bazaarees in Isfahan celebrate

as they do all over Iran.

[Shanti Interpreter] The owner of every shop,

including the bookstore,

pours water in front of his business.

Water is like a sacred light

everyone wants to bless his business with.

We learn this from our parents:

sweep, bless and trust in God.

Everyone does it in in his own way.

I have nothing else on hand at the moment.

(Shanti laughing)

He doesn't have to wait long

for the first customers.

Shanti has to turn over about 3,000 euros per month

to cover ongoing expenses like rent and salaries.

But the carpet business has become harder.

Cheap competition from East Asia makes sales difficult.

People think long and hard before spending five,

10 or 20,000 euros on a carpet.

[Shanti Interpreter] For this job, you need a big heart

and lots of patience.

It's not like a supermarket

that sells candy to kids every day, no.

Shanti has put a lot of things

on the back burner while he seeks professional success.

The 30 year old simply doesn't have enough time

for family, friends, or hobbies.

Like many Iranians, Shanti sees the relationship

between belief and business pragmatically.

He doesn't go into a mosque.

The little carpet stock room is sufficient for him

to practice his faith.

(elevator hisses)

A group of French people has found their way

to Shanti's shop.

Together with Kerman and Tabriz,

Isfahan is one of the largest weaving centers in Iran.

For many travelers, the visit to a carpet shop

is part of the itinerary.

Tourists are important customers for Shanti,

many are bargain hunters, but quality has its price.

(light music)

You definitely won't be successful,

if you're not passionate,

even if the chances of selling something today are minimal.

[Shanti Interpreter] It's very important to me

to spread out real carpets in front of my customers

and not just show them a catalog with photos.

Still he can't completely convince them.

The French people want to think about it.

Visitors don't only come to the fairytale city

on the Zayandeh River for the woven art.

The 33 arch Si-o-se-pol Bridge

on the river's northern section

and the Khajoo Bridge on the southern section

are among the city's landmarks.

They're inviting places to spend some time.

Naqsh-e Jahan Square in the city center

is the symbolic embodiment of Persian high culture.

You can see why residents of Isfahan refer to their city

as the sky blue pearl.

In the 16th century Shah Abbas resettled artists

and craftsmen from throughout the land in Isfahan:

Persians, Arabs and Jews all helped transform Isfahan

into an Oriental Dream.

The Christian Armenian community

also has a long tradition in Isfahan.

The Vank Cathedral is evidence

of the city's cosmopolitan atmosphere.

(light pensive music)

It's late evening, a day without a single sale

is ending at Shanti's.

In just a few hours

he will begin recruiting customers again.

He rarely sleeps much.

Next morning, the city gets ready for a new day.

Around two and a half million residents

live in Isfahan today.

Like many young Iranians,

Shanti still lives with his parents.

His strictly religious mother

leaves it to her husband Rameen

to represent the family to outsiders.

[Rameen Interpreter] We Iranian fathers

worry about the future of our children our whole lives long.

Are they successful? Are they independent?

I wish for a good life for my children.

Shanti's older siblings

have already moved away from home.

He still relies on his parents' support.

[Rameen Interpreter] We taught him to walk.

Now we have to teach him to be independent,

but in the Iranian manner, not like Europeans or Americans

who just separate from their children when they're 18.

In Iran we watch over our children our entire lives.

At 68, he now has enough time to do so.

(light music)

After 40 years in the carpet business,

he can afford to take things a little easier today

and focus on his second greatest passion: his flowers.

But the father's concern for his children keeps him busy.

[Rameen Interpreter] My duties don't just allow me

to sit at home and busy myself with one thing or another.

I go to the Bazaar every day

and I do what I can to secure my children's future.

As the head of an old Isfahan family,

Rameen Ghafarian also has social responsibilities.

A greeting here, a chat there,

his daily route to the bazaar is a social leeway.

(people chattering in foreign language)

The gentleman of the old school has never been to Europe,

but he thinks he knows the difference between it and Iran.

[Rameen Interpreter] We have many friends

and relatives in Isfahan

and we must cultivate our relationships with one another.

Everyone here in our district knows my first name,

from bazaarees to bakers.

That's the way it is here.

We greet each other and ask how it's going.

Not like in Europe, where everybody just lives for himself.

The cultivation of relationships

and contacts takes time.

Ghafarian senior only reaches his own shop by around midday.

At first glance, it's very different from his son's shop.

There are photos rather than physical merchandise

and hardly any decoration.

Customers who come to him know what they want.

What counts is the price.

(light playful music)

[Customer Interpreter] Can you make it less expensive?

[Rameen Interpreter] Unfortunately, my hands are tied.

[Customer Interpreter] Oh, come on.

[Rameen Interpreter] Let's see now.

How's this?

[Customer Interpreter] Yes. Okay.

Many thanks.

[Rameen Interpreter] Goodbye.

[Shanti Interpreter] Carpet dealing

is a very traditional business.

The old carpet merchants don't even talk to their customers.

We young ones are completely different.

We're much more open also in our dealings with customers.

And village-made carpet, it doesn't have any pattern.

It's made by imagination of woman,

everything she has in her mind,

she translate to some symbol, to some motif.

And then she made a carpet.

Shanti's sales strategy is tailored

to his largely European customer base.

He sells not only carpets, but stories.

I can tell you. If it's made by (indistinct),

it's 144 foot.

Designer of this one is a famous by foot of elephant.

In Iran, we don't have any elephants.

It's back to the history of Iran.

When King of Iran Nader Shah attacked India,

he left Iran with a horse,

but they said when he (indistinct) in Isfahan,

he backed with elephant to here.

From that time, foot of elephant

is getting symbol of victory, is getting symbol of hero.

(Shanti speaks in foreign language)

[Shanti Interpreter] It's like with a piece of pizza,

once they've tasted some, they can't stop,

and they want the whole pizza.

They keep tasting and tasting.

(group applauds)

That's the theory.

But the practice, unfortunately, looks different.

Shanti hasn't managed to sell a single carpet.

He has no good news for father Rameen.

[Rameen Interpreter] Hello.

And? How was it?

[Shanti Interpreter] Well, there were some people here,

but they just looked and couldn't decide.

These Germans are always like that.

They come, look and say, they're not sure.

And they might come back.

Nothing in particular. The usual.

Success looks different.

But the Ghafarian family has been active

in the carpet business for three generations

and they aren't easily perturbed.

[Rameen Interpreter] Every profession requires patience.

And of course, also a good instinct and knowledge.

Since he possesses both, he can be successful.

There's a great deal of value in the carpet business.

And I still see a great future in it.

A great future.

At least Shanti seems to have found one in his private life.

He's been engaged to 29-year-old Nina Delshakaste

for five months.

Like Shanti, she comes from a reputable Isfahan family.

[Shanti Interpreter] One of my close friends

introduced me to Nina.

One day they came together to the carpet shop,

where I was working at the time.

Later, my friend said to me, "Did you see that woman?"

"You'd be a really good couple.

(Shanti speaks in foreign language)

If you want to marry her, I can introduce you."

(Shanti speaks in foreign language)

I thought about it briefly, then said, okay.

It was unbelievable.

Since our first conversation,

I had the feeling I've known her forever.

And it was completely uncomplicated.

And soon we trusted each other.

(Shanti speaks in foreign language)

Two months later, my parents already knew,

and Nina's mother knew about us, too.

But not her father.

He would have gone for my throat.

By now the couple also has the blessing

of Nina's father and they want to marry.

But they don't have much time for each other.

(lighthearted music) (group laughing)

[Nina Interpreter] Okay, Shanti, I'm leaving again.

Bye. Take care.

Societal roles

are traditionally assigned in Iran.

Shanty's expected to stand on his own two feet financially

before he marries Nina.

The young entrepreneur is far from that point.

The Qeysarie Gate at the entrance

to the Old Bazaar in Isfahan.

Since the city's heyday in the 17th century,

many Persian craftsman have had their workshops

and shops here.

Shanti has an appointment

with a Grandmaster of the Isfahan Carpet Guild.

Faizullah Hariri is known far beyond the city's borders

for his high quality materials and designs.

(men speaking in foreign language)

Father Rameen has facilitated this exclusive contact.

There are many beautiful carpets in Isfahan,

but only a few of a real Persian rug crafted by Hariri.

(men speaking in foreign language)

[Shanti Interpreter] We're not talking about my order,

but about one from a well-informed customer.

Such customers want something special

and if they want something special,

you have to find a famous master.

The customer must be convinced

his order is in the right hands.

If you mentioned Hariri's name,

of course, that has great significance.

Hariri is really a big name.

(men speaking in foreign language)

Modern computers with design software are by now a given,

even in such companies with long standing traditions.

[Faizullah Interpreter] I have three sons

and it's an honor for me to work with them.

They're very interested in my work.

They're trying to do new things and modernize,

but they also take care to maintain

the good reputation of their forefathers.

Though the sons provide the family business

with fresh inspiration,

Hariri Sr. will not let anyone interfere

when it comes to colors.

[Faizullah Interpreter] Color is the most important

element in the entire process.

Color is the first thing I consider before I even began.

The question is which colors

are the most pleasing to my eyes.

Hariri uses only plant-based colors

and natural materials.

Handling them requires a great deal of experience.

(Faizullah speaks in foreign language)

[Faizullah Interpreter] The wool of the sheep from Isfahan

is very different from one from another region.

Even if you dye them with the same dye,

you never get the same result.

That's why it's very important to us

that the sheep come from Isfahan.

Depending on the material,

a carpet can consist of more than a million knots

per square meter.

8,000 knots a day is the daily workload

of an experience weaver.

And each not must fit perfectly.

[Faizullah Interpreter] You see, everything is numbered

according to plan.

[Shanti Interpreter] Yes, exactly.

[Faizullah Interpreter] Everything is precisely knotted.

If the ladies make a mistake, the carpet won't be beautiful.

Even experienced weavers, like Maryam Mailizi,

often work on complicated works of art for years.

(Maryam speaks in foreign language)

[Maryam Interpreter] I followed in the footsteps

of my forebears.

My mother wove carpets

and I started in her workshop when I was eight.

They made very large carpets there.

And I had lots of fun.

I thought at the time,

that that was the only proper work for women.

Of course it's hard work,

but if you love your work, you tolerate these difficulties.

The work can lead to troubles with your eyes and back.

Everything has its difficulties,

but if you do it with love, you can endure it.

Today, fewer and fewer women

choose to be weavers.

Many young Iranian women want to study

and look for new challenges

outside the traditional gender roles.

It's a topic that Nina Delshakaste

and her mother Mohad hash out almost daily.

Nina's father works in the oil industry and is rarely home.

56 year old Mohad is in charge of the household

and manages the education of their two children.

[Mohad Interpreter] The door buzzed, see who it is.

Nina's studied nutritional science

and is looking for a job.

Her little sister, Nikta,

also wants to study at a university.

They both still live at home

and enjoying the advantages of having a dedicated mother.

[Nikta Interpreter] What did you cook, mama?

[Mohad Interpreter] Rhaini and sabzi polo.

[Nikta Interpreter] No vegetable fritters?

(women speaking in foreign language)

[Mohad Interpreter] The mother is the backbone

of the family.

Not just me, but all Iranian mothers.

I don't know how it is in Europe,

but in our culture the mothers play the most important role.

We're responsible for the children's

good behavior and education.

For that, I have to be as strong as a mountain.

It's important to an Iranian husband

that his wife is a good cook.

If you're a good cook, everything's all right.

If not, he'll get his meals elsewhere.

[Nina Interpreter] Well, hopefully he'll develop

stomach trouble there

and don't feel like eating at all anymore.

[Mohad Interpreter] No. How can you be so mean?

If you love somebody, you should do your best for him

with cooking and other things.

You should always want the best for your husband.

[Nina Interpreter] My generation was born

in a time between the traditional and the modern.

Everyone knows you have to adapt to the time you live in.

Someone like me who has studied and is active for society

can't live completely traditional in the 21st century.

Of course, some things are simply part of our culture.

We can't run away from them.

But sometimes some of the paint peels off traditions

and you can't just ignore that.

(Nina speaks in foreign language)

And sometimes old traditions

get a fresh coat of paint.

Nina is on with a friend Yavari this afternoon.

Yavari wears a chador, the traditional garment

of conservative religious Iranian women.

The 32-year-old Muslim is a mother, housewife,

and captain of the Isfahan polo team.

(Yavari speaks in foreign language)

[Yavari Interpreter] I come here

twice a week for training.

I've loved horses since I was little,

even before I could talk.

My father had to draw horses for me.

My love of horses is rooted deep within me.

In Europe, polo is known as the favorite sport

of the British nobility.

But it comes from ancient Persia

and was originally meant to train the army's riding skills.

It was only in the 19th century

that the game came to England via India.

[Yavari Interpreter] Polo is very dynamic and energetic.

To me, it's modern and traditional at the same time.

Polo ties both things together for me.

Of course, I have to adapt myself to some things,

but I just love the thrill.

That helps me a lot when I play polo.

In Iran, the traditional sport of polo

is enjoying a Renaissance.

(Nina clapping)

[Yavari Interpreter] It's not surprising to people here

that I play polo.

They think it's great.

If we act modestly and tend to our duties

and wear our hijabs correctly,

why should people be opposed or irritated

or think it's strange that we play this sport?

"Seek out a sport that is part of our culture

and help bring polo back to life."

Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini

is quoted on public banners.

(upbeat music)

In recent years, skateboarders

have enlivened Isfahan's cityscape.

One of them is 27-year-old Nima Ahmadi, a true pioneer.

[Nima Interpreter] My father died a few years ago.

Since then I've lived alone with my mother.

She's always supported me.

Even when we were financially very badly off,

she bought me a new skateboard and she took care of me

when I was in the hospital with broken bones.

The meeting place and training ground

is the plaza in front of Shanti's shop.

Friendships have formed here over the years.

[Shanti Interpreter] Hi, how are you all good.

[Nima Interpreter] Oh good. And you?

[Shanti Interpreter] So far so good.

[Nima Interpreter] This place here was our playground.

We grew up here.

It's like a second home for me.

I meet my friends here.

It's one of the best spots in Isfahan.

Fortunately, the shopkeepers support us

so we can skate here when we want.

Nima meets his friends at a shop

belonging to Shanti's neighbor,

miniature painter Ali Halik, is a fan of the group

and regularly decorates their boards with drawings.

It's a change of pace for the traditionally trained painter.

Done! Wait, I forgot to sign it.

Every picture is unique.

[Skateboarder In Blue] What do I owe you?

No, forget it. It doesn't matter.

[Skateboarder In Light Gray] Thanks. Very nice.

[Nima Interpreter] It was a pleasure. Bye!

Nice to meet you!

It's a pleasure.

Nima and his friends

have not encountered resistance, on the contrary.

[Nima Interpreter] At first, nobody understood

what we were doing.

No one had ever seen a wooden board with wheels before.

They all wanted to know what it was and how it works,

how we get the board in the air.

Then we started showing people how it works,

and right away they were all enthusiastic.

Nobody made fun of us.

(upbeat music)

Today, there are about 30 skaters in Isfahan.

The scene is still small, but they have great ambitions.

[Nima Interpreter] My greatest wish

is to make skateboarding popular in Isfahan.

I definitely want to continue to develop myself further

and hopefully one day, I'll even be able

to make a living from it.

For Nima, skateboarding is more

than just a way to pass the time.

[Nima Interpreter] Skateboarding has helped me a lot.

I've learned a lot about life: to fall down and get back up,

to bounce back.

It still helps me today to assert myself and reach my goals.

In Iran, people have learned

to grasp opportunities to benefit from the small freedoms

to achieve their goals.

[Shanti Interpreter] My parents always told me

what I should do or avoid doing.

They always dictated my behavior.

My family's reputation is at stake.

After all, I'm Ghafarian's grandson.

Everyone in Isfahan knows my grandfather.

So I always had to behave respectfully

and I couldn't step out of line.

That's how it is in a traditional family.

Things continue like that,

and at some point when you're 26 or 27,

you're suddenly an adult and part of this world,

whether you like it or not.

In the south of Isfahan

lies the Takht-e Foulad, the oldest cemetery in the city.

For eight centuries,

the great granddaughters and sons of Isfahan

have found their final resting place here.

In Islamic culture,

the deceased are only wrapped in a shroud for burial.

Their graves point towards Mecca.

(pensive music)

The Ghafarian's ancestors are buried

in one of the mausoleums.

Father and son go there every Thursday.

[Rameen Interpreter] You get a mystic

spiritual feeling here.

This is exactly the reason the Isfahaners come here.

They visit their forefathers

and the city's great personalities,

anticipating their spiritual assistance.

We remember the past when we come here.

So it comes alive for us.

[Shanti Interpreter] Everyone has a memory

of one or more of the deceased,

like a kind of biography of the people, like a book.

You see their faces in your thoughts

and remember all the good things they did.

I find peace in this place

because I know I can find answers to questions

about my own life here if I think about their experiences.

It's early evening.

Twilight casts the city's famous bridges

in a picturesque light.

The weekend in Iran begins on Thursday evening.

Most shops are closed until Saturday.

Isfahan is also a popular destination for Iranian tourists.

Of course, Shanty's store is still open.

He's in the red at the moment

and he hopes customers might stray over in his direction.

Rameen Ghafarian regularly visits the zurkhaneh,

the house of strength.

The zurkhaneh is a men's sport

that goes back to pre-Islamic times.

Even today, these traditional sports clubs

can be found in all the larger Iranian cities.

(man drumming)

The men practice strengths, coordination, and endurance.

The zurkhaneh's master of ceremonies, the morshed,

sets the tone.

[Rameen Interpreter] When I was here for the first time

as a small boy, I was excited about the men in the ring

and the banging of the drum.

I'd never heard anything like it.

I found it very stirring.

And from that moment on, I was fascinated by this sport.

It's a sport you can quickly fall in love with.

(man drumming)

The morshed leads the athletes

through the exercises with drumming and singing.

At the beginning, there are loosening and warmup exercises.

Later, comes endurance and strength training.

(string rattling)

The juggling of clubs weighing up to 10 kilos

requires great skill.

Rameen Ghafarian likes the zurkhaneh

not only because it emphasizes physical culture.

[Rameen Interpreter] Actually this kind of sports

stands for gallantry, generosity, and helpfulness.

These are the virtues which led my forefathers

and me to come here.

And I think these old traditions should be preserved,

just as they were passed down from generation to generation.

(man drumming)

(men applauding)

(calm music)

It's Friday, the Sunday of the Muslim world.

Schools, universities, most stores and government offices

are closed today.

According to the Koran, Friday is the day of gathering,

prayer and refreshment.

In the cities, more and more traditions are changing

and most families enjoy going out to gardens

and the countryside to escape the hectic city life.

Shanti and Nina also decide to go on a picnic

to enrich their body and soul

just before a new week of hard work.

All that's missing is the bread.

Sangak was originally the bread of the Persian army today.

Today, the flat bread baked in wood ovens

is an inherent part of Iranian cooking,

but it tastes best freshly baked.

[Shanti Interpreter] Normally, men go out

on Friday morning to buy bread for their families.

It's especially popular with casseroles

and is definitely the oldest and tastiest food in Iran.

Warm flatbread in hand,

they set out for the south towards Mount Soffeh.

The limestone massive 600 meters high

has been a popular destination for Isfahaners

since cable car started operating here 10 years ago.

Nina and Shanti get in a cabin.

And in just a few minutes, they reach the summit station.

[Nina Interpreter] That guy's totally going crazy.

(Shanti laughing)

(people clapping)

On weekends, many residents of Isfahan

and their families amuse themselves outside of the city.

Although they don't want to be seen on camera,

the fun is audible.

(Shanti laughing)

(people whistling)

In Iran, young couples usually go on a picnic

on their own after getting married.

Fortunately, Nina and Shanti are engaged,

which allows them to go to places on their own.

[Nina Interpreter] Maybe you can treat it.

Maybe it's better like that.

[Shanti Interpreter] What a delicious tomato.

[Nina Interpreter] Shanti, look! There!

[Shanti Interpreter] Wow! (laughing)

(Shanti whistling)

(both laughing)

[Nina Interpreter] Of course we're just

starting our relationship.

We've been engaged for two months.

And of course we'd like to spend more time together.

But it's hard because of his work.

On Friday, we have more time for each other.

During the week, we're not together so much.

[Shanti Interpreter] We want to plan our lives.

So I work a lot and hard

to finance a roof over our heads.

Luckily, Nina leaves me lots of space.

But it's hard to find an apartment,

especially for young people.

Renting isn't easy either.

That's why I'm trying very hard

to achieve a stable livelihood in a year or two.

I want to create stability. Also, to make Nina happy.

The 30 year old set himself ambitious goals:

Nina we'll probably need to do

without her Shanti for a while, since in the future as well

they'll only be able to enjoy Fridays together.

[Shanti Interpreter] One, two, three.

I like this one.

In Isfahan, the going price

for a basic three to four room apartment

is the equivalent of 1,000 euros.

Shanti will have to sell a lot of rugs

to be able to pay that much.

On Saturday, the undecided customers

have returned to his shop.

Shanti must use this second chance,

since he won't get a third one.

He attackted India.

He left Iran with horse.

But when he won in that war,

he backed with elephant to here.

From that time, food of elephant

is getting symbol of victory, he's getting symbol of hero.

Done.

Shanti makes the sale earning about a 1,000 euros.

This covers at least a third of his monthly fixed costs.

[Shanti Interpreter] Things went pretty well today.

We had a number of customers here

and I made them a good offer for a beautiful carpet.

They left my shop satisfied.

That feels good after such a hard day's work.

Really good.

So, is there a future in carpet sales?

[Rameen Interpreter] Our culture and art is very valuable,

which you can see by looking at our carpets.

We communicate with the world through our carpets.

I'm glad I've been able to teach my son so much about them.

But he knows he'll need more

than just his father's carpet knowledge to be successful.

[Shanti Interpreter] We're young

and have a lot more energy than the elders.

We give it our all.

And even if the chances are low that someone will buy,

I keep trying over and over.

Shanti was prepared for it not to be easy.

1,000-year-old Persian culture

is present here on every corner.

And yet many young Isfaharners

have their eyes on the future.

Everything seems possible.

(bright dreamy music)

For Rameen Ghafarian, the parental generation

still plays an important role.

[Rameen Interpreter] If we neglect our children,

we will lose them.

We cannot allow this to happen.

We must pass down our experience to them

without dictating what they should or should not do.

We should give them their freedom, but cautiously,

and they must be open with us.

Yet, not everybody waits for permission.

Many take their happiness into their own hands.

[Nima Interpreter] We skaters are part of society

that isn't afraid of anything.

We do what we want

and don't start whining if we break a bone now and then.

That separates us from other young people.

Nima and friends dare to do things,

even if it's only to have fun skateboarding.

It's not always easy for young people

to manage the balancing act between religion,

tradition and modernity.

[Shanti Interpreter] A problem today is that the children

can really do what they want.

This leads to difficulties between the generations.

Sure, the young generation is free

and they get everything they want from the internet.

But in contrast to their parents, they have no experience.

And without that, you quickly reach your limits.

That's the way it is.

Isfahan is half the world,

according to an old saying.

It will be interesting to see what kind of world

today's courageous and passionate Isfahaners

will create in the future.

(dreamy music)