# The Willow Tree (بید مجنون)
**The Willow Tree** (بید مجنون) is a 2005 Iranian drama film written, directed, and produced by [Majid Majidi](https://www.edgepedia.org/majid-majidi), his sixth feature film. It premiered at the 23rd Fajr Film Festival, where it was nominated in nine categories and won four Crystal Simorgh awards, including Best Director and Best Actor for Parviz Parastui.[1](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29) • [2](https://khoobo.com/beede-majnoon-film/) The film tells the story of Yusuf, a blind university professor who regains his sight after surgery in France and finds the world he enters unrecognizable.[1](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original title | بید مجنون (Bīd-i majnūn), also released as *The Willow Tree* or *Weeping Willow*[3](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/) |
| Year and length | Produced in the Iranian year 1383 (2005); 95 minutes, drama genre[4](https://www.manzoom.ir/title/tt9613807/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-1383) |
| Director | Majid Majidi, who also wrote and produced; his sixth feature[1](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29) • [5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) |
| Lead cast | Parviz Parastui as Yusuf, Roya Teymourian as his wife Roya[4](https://www.manzoom.ir/title/tt9613807/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-1383) |
| Fajr Festival result | Nine nominations, four Crystal Simorgh wins: Best Director, Best Actor (Parastui), Best Sound Recording (Yadollah Najafi), and Best Film from the View of the Audience[2](https://khoobo.com/beede-majnoon-film/) |
| International recognition | Special Jury Prize at the Damascus biennial film festival (Azar 1384)[6](https://www.radiofarda.com/a/314044.html) |
| Production company | Soureh Cinema Organization[3](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Yusuf is a 45-year-old professor of literature who lost his sight at the age of eight in a fire spark. He lives a calm, contented life with his wife Roya and their daughter Maryam, until he develops a relatively dangerous illness that threatens his health permanently. His wealthy uncle arranges for him to travel abroad for treatment, and Yusuf goes to France.[1](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29)
During treatment, doctors find that the growth in his eyes is benign, but testing reveals that his eyes respond to light. After nearly three months of repeated tests, a corneal transplant is performed, and Yusuf regains his sight after 37 years of blindness.[1](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29) One review of the film gives the figure as 38 years of blindness before the surgery.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review)
Before the operation, Yusuf, who has maintained a deep spiritual relationship with God throughout his blindness, makes a written covenant with God, entrusting it among the pages of Rumi's *Masnavi*, and promises that if he can see again he will walk only in God's way.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) • [3](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/) After returning to Tehran with his new sight, he tries to resume an ordinary life, but the things he lacked in his former life cause disruptions, and he gradually breaks his covenant and takes a sinful path.[7](https://fa2.ifilmtv.ir/Film/Content/47872) • [8](https://713239154.r.worldcdn.net/Iran/Content/79131/) The contrast between the idealized, mystical society he knew before and the materialistic, fast-moving world he now sees undermines his former beliefs, and his behavior grows violent and uncontrolled until his wife Roya quietly leaves him.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) • [9](https://www.imvbox.com/index.php/fa/movies/willow-tree-bid-majnoon) In the ending, Yusuf loses his sight again, pays for his errors, and returns repentant to God.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) • [8](https://713239154.r.worldcdn.net/Iran/Content/79131/)
## Cast and crew
Parviz Parastui plays Yusuf, in his first collaboration with Majidi, and Roya Teymourian plays his wife. The supporting cast includes Mahmoud Behraznia as Yusuf's uncle, Afarin Obeisi as Yusuf's mother, Sharareh Dolat-Abadi as his aunt, Melika Aslani as his daughter Maryam, Leila Otadi as Pari, Reza Naji as Morteza, Ahmad Gavaheri as Kashani, and Fouad Nahas as the doctor.[4](https://www.manzoom.ir/title/tt9613807/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-1383) • [9](https://www.imvbox.com/index.php/fa/movies/willow-tree-bid-majnoon)
The screenplay was written by Majidi with Fouad Nahas and Seyyed Nasser Hashemzadeh.[4](https://www.manzoom.ir/title/tt9613807/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-1383) Cinematography is credited to Mahmoud Kalari, Mohammad Davudi, and Bahram Badakhshani; editing to Hassan Hassandust; music to Ahmad Pejman; production design to Behzad Kazazi; costume design to Malek-Jahan Khazaei; and sound recording to Yadollah Najafi.[1](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29) • [3](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/) The film was produced by Soureh Cinema Organization.[3](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/)
## Production and release
The film went through production under the working titles *Bazgasht* (بازگشت, "Return") and *Bar Digar Zendegi* (بار دیگر زندگی, "Life Again") before being released as *Bīd-e majnūn*, a title referring to the weeping willow and echoing the image of Yusuf trembling in his faith like a willow.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) • [3](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/) It was Majidi's first feature after a period devoted to documentaries such as *Barefoot in Herat* and consultation on *The Childhood Train*, and it marked a shift in his casting practice: instead of the non-professional or unknown actors he had habitually used, he cast established stars, above all Parastui.[10](https://www.tasnimnews.ir/fa/news/1392/02/03/45970/%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%D8%BA-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AC%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%88-%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B5) • [5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review)
The film premiered at the 23rd Fajr International Film Festival in 1383 (2005), where it became one of the most popular films of that edition.[2](https://khoobo.com/beede-majnoon-film/) • [5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) In Azar 1384 (late 2005), the jury of the Damascus biennial film festival awarded it a special jury prize.[6](https://www.radiofarda.com/a/314044.html)
## Reception and themes
At the Fajr festival the film received nine nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay (Hashemzadeh, Nahas, and Majidi), and Best Actor, and won four Crystal Simorghs: Best Director, Best Actor for Parastui, Best Sound Recording for Yadollah Najafi, and the audience award for Best Film.[2](https://khoobo.com/beede-majnoon-film/) Critics have described the film as one of the defining works of Iran's meaning-oriented (معناگرا) cinema, and some consider it Majidi's best film.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) • [10](https://www.tasnimnews.ir/fa/news/1392/02/03/45970/%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%D8%BA-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AC%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%88-%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B5)
**Critical views.** Reviewers have noted a recurring split between the film's form and its message: criticism of the screenplay's dialogue and the rushed, unconvincing ending has run alongside strong praise for Parastui's performance, Teymourian's portrayal of the wife, and the film's treatment of covenant, faith, and moral choice.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) The critic Pouria Zarshenas, senior editor of Asia News Iran, reads the story as a retelling of the theme of creation, the breaking of the human covenant with God, and eventual forgiveness, and highlights the hospital-corridor scene in which Yusuf, opening the bandages on his eyes, first sees an ant carrying a seed between light and darkness as a scene that condenses the whole film.[5](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review) On the Iranian rating site Manzoom, the film holds a user score of 6.3 out of 10 based on about 2,044 votes, and it ranks 66th on that site's list of the 100 best films in Iranian history.[4](https://www.manzoom.ir/title/tt9613807/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-1383)
## References
1. [بید مجنون (فیلم), Wikijoo](https://wikijoo.ir/index.php/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%28%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85%29)
2. [فیلم بید مجنون, Khoobo](https://khoobo.com/beede-majnoon-film/)
3. [Weeping Willow | Bīd-i majnūn, Cinema Iranica](https://cinema.iranicaonline.org/film/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86/)
4. [فیلم سینمایی بید مجنون (1383), Manzoom](https://www.manzoom.ir/title/tt9613807/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-1383)
5. [نقد، بررسی و تحلیل فیلم سینمایی «بید مجنون», Asia News Iran](https://www.asianewsiran.com/fa/newsagency/41435/bid-e-majnun-movie-review)
6. [جایزه ویژه جشنواره فیلم دمشق به بید مجنون تعلق گرفت, Radio Farda](https://www.radiofarda.com/a/314044.html)
7. [بید مجنون (1383), iFilm](https://fa2.ifilmtv.ir/Film/Content/47872)
8. [بیننده «بید مجنون» از آیفیلم باشید, iFilm](https://713239154.r.worldcdn.net/Iran/Content/79131/)
9. [فیلم بید مجنون, imvbox](https://www.imvbox.com/index.php/fa/movies/willow-tree-bid-majnoon)
10. [بلوغ سینمایی مجیدی, Tasnim News](https://www.tasnimnews.ir/fa/news/1392/02/03/45970/%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%D8%BA-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AC%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%88-%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%87-%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%B5)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 2000s › Biographical and historical drama films 2000s › Released 2000 to 2005*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license