Decoding the character of Imam Zaman (A.S.) in the cinema of the 60s based on the pattern of encoding and decoding of Stuart Hall's theory of reception

Showing the image and narration of the life of Imam Zaman is one of the things that filmmakers often avoid.The reason is the refusal to desecrate this character. In this research, we use a descriptive and analytical method with a semiotic approach in the field of Stuart Hall's theory of "reception" to unlock the codes of movies. To answer this question: How is the character of Imam Zaman encoded and decoded in Iranian films of the sixties (Mother and Tenants)?The purpose of this research is to discover and investigate the codes of Mahdism in the films of the sixties of Iranian cinema، So that we can reach a suitable model for dealing with the character of Imam Zaman in Iranian cinema with the help of these codes. The findings show that; In each of these two films, there is a character named "Mahdi". This character-type can be deciphered in the coordinates of other characters. Each of them is an allegory of important sections of society. In the meantime, the existence of a character named Mehdi indicates a benevolent and benevolent person who is asked for help when needed. And after meeting the need, they push her to the sidelines out of fear of their interests. Examining these two films from the point of view of Mahdavitism has created an incentive to watch them again And it provides a model for narrating and portraying the character of Imam Zaman (AS) in today's cinema, which can be a way forward for filmmakers who often refuse to do so.