"Dear Mr. Golestan-Parast:

It was my pleasure to meet you in person during the Mehregan and I really appreciated your recommendation to purchase your Film and your request of me e-mailing my opinion about it. I have to tell you that I watched the film with my whole family and we were so emotional that we were speechless and we cried for the entire length of the film. The film is very deep and strong and almost spiritual and it takes you through a journey that is beyond words. The best way to describe it's message perhaps is to use the Sadi Poem that says: Bani Adam Azay Yek Digarand..., I am not a documentary critics but in my opinion your film was perfect and you were very successful in portraying a human tragedy and Iranian culture through Eyes of Americans. I enjoyed it's edit, story, camera, and especially the music was fantastic. You are truly a talented director and I'll see a very bright future for your work. Unfortunately it is very challenging to finance such a project but with generous assistant of people like Fariborz Maseeh and many other including yourself creating such a great film is possible. I know your film has already being recognized and awarded many times and I am sure your film will find it's place in the Iranian Film History. I hope that we can get more exposure and more people to view such a great documentary. Just one note and If possible please provide a translated, Farsi version of the film for the Iranian viewers.

Thank you again for your hard work and look forward to see more of your excellent work in the near future."

- Arash Aftabi

"I've seen the film and bought a copy. I appreciate Bam 6.6 as a work of love and dedication. Thanks for promoting Bam 6.6. Here's an interesting tidbit relating to the film: The Iranian guide who aided Adele and Tobb is Farzaneh Khademi. I have been with her on two tours of Iran and heard first hand the story of what she did for them. It was a harrowing experience.

But the story doesn't end there. Adele and her family wanted Farzaneh to visit them in the U.S. to try to repay some of the hospitality Iranians had shown them. They got several members of congress to write letters on her behalf. At great expense, Farzaneh flew to Dubai--the nearest US consulate--to apply for a visa. The officials turned her down flat.

"You're a single woman," she was told. "You just want to go to America to find a husband." So insulting!

Again last year--shortly after my last visit to Iran-- Farzaneh applied for a visa to visit the US. She has many friends here because she is truly a generous and giving woman who has touched the hearts of all who travel with her. This time she could say to the consulate officials that she had traveled abroad many times (as a guide for Iranian tourists) and returned--without a husband!--AND she had sold her apartment so she could show them she had plenty of money in the bank. They turned her down a second time!!! She was crushed.

After seeing Bam 6.6, do you think Farzaneh is a threat to the United States?

This is just one example of our country's very, very stupid attitudes towards Iranians. If our government had any sense it would grant visas to every young person who wanted to come to the US to study.

I just had to get that off my chest."

- Sarah Forth

" Dear Jahangir,
I just returned from Iran on November 1 and had a remarkable 19 day trip that exceeded everyone of my expectations.  I was eager to have a first-hand view of this country that has such a rich culture and especially wanted to see the extraordinary mosques in Esfahan and the beauty of Shiraz.  But beyond all of this, the biggest pleasure and surprise of this trip was the way I was greeted by the Iranian people ... people stopped me on the street, in the bazaars and in tea houses.   Wherever I went, people wanted to know where I was from and my response "American" was  welcomed with amazing warmth and enthusiasm.   I must admit, as a Jewish American, I  had had some anxiety about visiting Iran and was swept away by the way I was greeted.  I travel a great deal and have never had so many wonderful connections initiated by people I was just passing by in the park or standing near in a bakery or at an historical site.  I keep copious notes when I travel and each night I recorded each of these treasured encounters - wanted to remember them all and share them when I returned home.
On a long bus ride after visiting the Citadel in Kerman my guide, Farzaneh, told me the story of the Bam earthquake and mentioned your film.  I called my husband (who was at home) and asked him to order it so that I could see it when I returned .... and I just watched it this afternoon.  Had to contact you to applaud you for this documentary.  It was a dramatic story that captured my personal feeling for the great warmth of the Iranian people.  I look forward to seeing it again at the screening on November 29 and having the pleasure of meeting you.  If you have flyers for that event and/or an email notice, I would be happy to distribute these to my mailing list."

- Audrey