Glad that I came, not sorry to depart
Directed by Zam Zadeh, 2020
Main Info
VR experience with AR exposition and AR comic book
Synopsis
Iranian astrologer and scientist Omar Khayyam wrote 1000 four-line verses, more than 1000 years ago. Artist Azam Masoumzadeh grew up with his verses and has made them her tools for a good and beautiful life.
In this animated VR experience, Azam creates a contemporary version of Omar Khayyam’s world, inspired by ancient Iranian miniature art. It is a world to the heart of Epicurus, pleasant and relaxing, that immerses you in 5 different scenes, each one inspired by a different poem.
The poems are told in voice-over, in Farsi, English or Dutch. Sometimes they are sad, sometimes full of humor. And although they are centuries old, they touch timeless themes: love, death, loss, religion, pleasure, happiness, mental wellbeing ... Khayyam’s age-old words are more recognizable than you think and show us a very different world view from Iran today than what media present us.
GLAD THAT I CAME, NOT SORRY TO DEPART is also an AR experience: when you scan the illustrations with the Artivive app, they come to live: the wind sets the trees in motion, birds fly by and music and poetry sing a duet. You hear the poems of Omar Khayyam in voice over, alternated with traditional Iranian music with a modern touch.
websiteSocial Media
Press
Credits
Concept & screenplay Zam Zadeh
Creative technologist Wim Forceville
Illustrator Zam Zadeh
Animators Wim Forceville, Willem Mertens
Farsi poems from The Rubáiyát Omar Khayyám
Poems interpreted to Dutch by Stijn Vranken
Poems interpreted to English Justin Huntly McCarthy
Producer Emmy Oost
Line producer An Oost
Original music Ehsan Yadollahi
Musician tar & sitar Ehsan Yadollahi
Additional instruments Stefan Bracke
Sound mix & production Stefan Bracke at Audiotheque studios
Assisting animator Rose Thys
Voice overs Stijn Vranken, Christopher Joseph, Azam Masoumzadeh
With the support of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Flanders Literature
Awards
Special Mention VR Short Film Award at Anima festival
Selections
IDFA DocLab Academy 2018
Anima Festival 2020 (BE) World premiere
Bucheon International Animation Festival 2020 (SK) International Competition – VR Film
JEF Festival 2021 (BE) Medialab
Kaboom Festival 2021 (NL) AR & VR programme
Mooov Film Festival 2021 (BE)
