Study of Symbolism in Sacred Defense Cinema; A case study of The Sentinel and the Immigrant

The present paper seeks to explain symbolization in the Sacred Defense Cinema from Mircea Eliade's view, which is discussed in two Movies Didehban (The Scout) Mohajer (The Immigrant).

The data have been gathered through library studies and watching the movies, and have been explained descriptively and comparatively.

According to Mircea Eliade, symbol has sacred manifestation, and man can acquire real knowledge of sacred realms through it and based on his own activism. Based on this view, a way to understand symbolization is investigating religions and denominations through ethnological and ritual lens. Each devotional and religious deed includes a part of symbolization and tries to direct religious man towards a truth beyond experience. For example, we can refer to Iranian warriors' activism during Sacred Defense, which has had symbolic representation and was scenic for people.

The results show that a sacred atmosphere will be created to the extent that the personality's act is in higher existential stage of sacred thing in certain time and place, and ordinary things and affairs acquire symbolic manifestation. In the movies Didehban and Mohajer, personalities' acts in certain event and critical situation create sacred atmosphere, and stage equipment and thing acquire symbolic representation.