An Intertextual Study of the Appropriation and Parody of Joyce’s “The Dead” and Tolstoy's “the Death of Ivan Illych” in Ali Mosafa’s The Last Step

This article analyzes The Last Step by Ali Mosaffa, an Iranian cinematic piece that creatively appropriates and parodies elements from James Joyce's "The Dead" and Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych". Employing a qualitative-explanatory approach, the study explores the film's intertextual relationships with the source texts, juxtaposing it with parodies of the works by Joyce and Tolstoy. The analysis not only dissects the film's playful reinterpretation of themes and motifs from these literary works but also situates this subtextual parody within the rich tapestry of Iranian culture, incorporating traditional music and architecture. Nostalgia emerges as a central theme, bridging the subtexts of the film's written, cinematic, musical, and architectural elements. The study reveals how the film, as a work in progress, establishes intricate intertextual relationships with the original stories, offering a fresh and engaging perspective on the source material. Through a nuanced exploration of parodying intertextuality, the article sheds light on the film's postmodern narrative style and its unique contribution to the cinematic landscape.