Mein Persienflug

In the winter of 1924, Swiss aviation pioneer Walter Mittelholzer embarked on a daring aerial expedition that would bridge the gap between European industrialism and the ancient landscapes of the Middle East. Mein Persienflug is not merely a travelogue; it is a clinical, high-altitude survey of a nation on the precipice of modernization. Mittelholzer, acting as both pilot and cinematographer, captures the first-ever aerial footage of Iran, transforming the Junkers aircraft into a flying eye. The film navigates the jagged peaks of the Zagros Mountains and the sprawling, intricate geometry of Tehran’s urban layout. The centerpiece of the film remains the hauntingly beautiful approach to Mount Damavand, where the camera stares directly into the icy isolation of the dormant volcano. It is a record of a journey through space and time, documenting a Persia that was soon to be reshaped by the 20th century.