HAFIZ OF SHIRAZ The Screenplay by Paul Smith HAFIZ is an aspiring poet and the ugliest man of his age: an apprentice baker, who delivers bread to the people of Shiraz, Persia. One day he catches sight of NABAT, the beautiful daughter of one of the cities wealthy traders. Smitten, HAFIZ pours his longing into his songs dedicated to the entrancing object of his desire. His words are so wondrous that the greatest minstrel of the day HAJJI, takes up his instrument and serenades HAFIZ'S loved one. Captivated by his lyrics, NABAT falls in love with HAFIZ, whose experiences with the Spiritual Guide, ATTAR, and songs and poems have established him as a spiritual and cultural force throughout his beloved country, ravaged by bloody coups and violent revolutions. Fame does not come easily as the ruthless rulers and clergy conspire to silence the ever-increasing power of HAFIZ'S voice. Will the lovers survive? Can words of love defeat the sword of hypocrisy? Will HAFIZ gain his heart's desire. HAFIZ OF SHIRAZ is a truly timeless story. The classical fantasies Beauty and The Beast, Phantom of The Opera, Cyrano De Bergerac have fascinated people world-wide. However HAFIZ OF SHIRAZ is more than a fantasy, it is the real life story of HAFIZ, the 14th Century poet and mystic. Today, his work is sung by the greatest artists throughout the East and the West. PAUL SMITH has revealed his extraordinary life. Goethe's spiritual mentor, described by Emerson as "the Shakespeare of the East... the greatest poet of all time." HAFIZ OF SHIRAZ is an epic musical drama aimed at mass market throughout the East and the West. Gertrude Bell: "It is as if his mental Eye, endowed with wonderful acuteness of vision, had penetrated into those provinces of thought which we of a later age were destined to inhabit." Meher Baba: "There is no equal to Hafiz in poetry. He was a Perfect Master ... His Divan is the best book in the world because it engenders feelings which ultimately lead to illumination." COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all. " Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre and others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies and screenplays.