Metafiction in the 1390s of Iranian Cinema Based on Linda Hutcheon's Theory: a Case Study of two films “A Dragon Arrives!” and “A Hairy Tale”

Metafiction is one of the methods of postmodern literature that entered Western fiction writing in the 1960s, and its first signs were seen in Tristram Shandy 's novel by Laurence Sterne in the 18th century. The success of postmodern literary genres such as metafiction led to their entry into the field of cinema, and many screenwriters and directors were inclined to use these techniques. In recent years, Iranian cinema has also tended to produce more works with a postmodern approach. Considering the importance of studying postmodern art in the field of cinema and the tendency of artists towards new techniques, this research tries to explore postmodern approaches, especially in the field of metafiction with the theory of Linda Hutcheon, in the 1390s of Iranian cinema on the two films “A Dragon Arrives!” Directed by Mani Haghighi and “A Hairy Tale” by Homayoun Ghanizadeh. The research is descriptive-analytical and the film content analysis method is used based on library sources. The main feature of metafictional works is the contradiction in their narration. This paradox means that the author of the story must constantly convince the audience that they are reading or seeing a work of fiction (imaginary) and on the other hand, he must make the audience believe this work of fiction. Short circuit is another feature of these stories that the writers allow themselves to enter into the narrative and be with the audience and its characters. Intertextuality is also one of the things that can be traced in all postmodern literature, including metafiction. Mani Haghighi in the movie “A Dragon Arrives!” tries hard to create a real and imaginary situation for his audience based on Linda Hutcheon 's historiographic metafiction and by entering the story as a writer himself, he changes the process of narration from documentary- like truth to a fantasy police movie. In his first cinematic experience, Homayoun Ghanizadeh also tried to use the characteristics of metafiction in the movie “A Hairy Tale”, taking into account postmodern narratives in theater and literature. The characters of the film are constantly going back and forth in different intertexts, and the border between reality and fantasy is blurred in the barber shop scenes. Postmodern art is one of the most important approaches in contemporary art, and studying and knowing their elements will help writers and directors to create better narratives.