Director Statement:
My third film, ‘Wind’s Heritage’, is a documentary that explores the historical significance of the ancient windmills of Nashtifan, located in southeastern Iran. My previous films, ‘Mat’ and ‘Eil Bano’, were about women who protected their environment and community in remote and indigenous places, and single-handedly shouldered the burden of society’s backwardness and government incompetence. In this documentary, I wanted to highlight the story of Mohammad Vali Gandami, the last miller who knows the techniques of building and repairing windmills experimentally. For many years, he alone has been protecting the historical heritage of his people and his predecessors. Through this film, I hope to bring attention to the importance of preserving our cultural heritage and the need to recognize the contributions of those who have dedicated their lives to this cause.These windmills have applied for the UNESCO world registration for years, but due to the lack of follow-up by national and local authorities, the case has not yet been completed and the buildings are not properly protected. It is imperative that we take action to preserve these historical structures before it’s too late.