The Literary Foundation: Dolatabadi’s Awsaneh Baba Sobhan
The source material for Khak, Dolatabadi’s Awsaneh Baba Sobhan, is a poignant tale rooted in the socio-economic struggles of rural Iran. The novel focuses on the dynamics of small landownership, rural life, and the tensions between tradition and progress. At the heart of the novel is the character Adela, a widow reliant on the rental income from her late husband’s land. Her ambition to purchase Baba Sobhan’s share of a disputed plot and modernize it by digging a well drives the story’s central conflict.
Adela’s confrontation with Baba Sobhan is not just a personal struggle but a reflection of broader societal issues, such as the clash between rural landowners and the rising trend of mechanization. The novel’s emphasis on internal economic conflicts and its realistic portrayal of rural life offer a stark contrast to the symbolic and allegorical approach taken by Kimiai in the film adaptation.
Kimiai’s Adaptation and the Controversy
Masoud Kimiai’s interpretation of Awsaneh Baba Sobhan introduced significant changes that shifted the narrative’s focus and tone. The most notable alteration was the replacement of Adela with a foreign woman as the antagonist. This choice, along with the depiction of a grand manor house in place of Adela’s modest city home, introduced colonial undertones to the story. The transformation of a local land dispute into a broader commentary on class oppression and exploitation fundamentally altered the story’s original perspective.