DVD, all-zone, NTSC, full screen (1.33:1) presentation; Dolby Digital.

In Farsi with English subtitles.

Producer, Ebrahim Gulistan ; writer/film editor, Furugh Farrukhzad ; cinematography, Soleyman Minasian ; production assistants, Amir Karrari, Herand Minasian.

Originally produced in 1962 by Guliståan Film Co.

Accompanying booklet includes essays by Chris Marker, Jonathan Rosenbaum and Susan Doll.

This film about the leprosy colony in Tabriz, Iran is a compassionate portrait of forgotten people. Straightforward yet sympathetic, the film affords dignity to its subjects, particularly through Farrokhzad's striking poem read by the poet herself. The House Is Black has heavily influenced the modern Iranian cinema of such great filmmakers as Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who called it "the best Iranian film." It provides, in the film's own words, "a vision of pain no caring human being should ignore."

Includes two short films directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf: Images from the Qajar Dynasty (1993, 18 min.) and The school blown away by the wind (1996, 8 min.). "Images from the Qajar Dynasty": A short documentary made while the filmmaker was preparing his feature Once upon a Time, Cinema. The Qajar (aka Ghajar) family ruled Iran from 1785-1925. The film shows rare photos and early films shot at the Shah's court, along with family portraits. "The school blown away by the wind" (aka The school that was blown away): The school for nomad children seen in the film Gabbeh, is the subject of this drama. An old man visits the classroom, and at first mistaken for an inspector, eventually is revealed as a former teacher of nomad children who has stopped by to refresh his memories of this happy time in his life.

Other special features: interview with poet Pooran Farrokhzad (sister of Forough Farrokhzad) from PBS series Adventure divas.