The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines (31 page)

My mother Eftekhar Al-Sadat, a woman of substance and courage.

My mother was obsessed with framing our photos and displaying them all around the house. This photo was taken at my mother’s favorite photographer’s studio, the Photo Gallery Sayeh.

My brothers and me, planted in front of the camera, again at the Photo Gallery Sayeh.

My first attempt at modeling at my mother’s hair salon. This photo was taken by the show’s photographer, Balasanian.

My wedding with Aydin at my aunt’s orchard in northern Tehran. The gentleman in the background is Aydin’s best friend and our first landlord, Bijan Khorsand.

(Photo by Photo Gallery Sayeh)

The cast of the workshop’s production of
The Pot Lady and Mash Rahim
, including my future husband, Houshang Touzie, to my left. Who knew we were going to fall in love in the years to come?

Me as the bondmaid in
The Chess Game of the Wind
, directed by Mohammad Reza Aslani.

A shot from
Broken Hearts
, directed by Ali Hatami, the film to which I owe my fame in Iran. It was the only film I was a part of there that was released publicly and not censored.

Pasha, content, resting, taking a moment to himself after having tangoed to Albinoni’s entire
Adagio
with me.

Aydin and me in Venice, Italy, enjoying our last days together in February 1979. The Polaroid photo was taken by our travel companion and dear fiend Mahdi Kafaie.

Graduation day, 1984, and I am ready to put my degree to use.

The Pot Lady, my flower shop on the corner of Santa Monica and Westwood, named after one of my favorite roles in
The Pot Lady and Mash Rahim
, written and directed by Ishmael Khalag.

I am married to my prince charming, Houshang, in L.A.

(Photo by Mike Chitsaz photography)