The man who lost everything
Ramin Shirmad is born in Iran 1957 and grew up in the mountains till he reached the age of 10. He moved to Susa to live with his aunt where he went to school and learned how to colorate old black and white photographs. Since unemployment was high in Iran at that time, he was convinced by an afghan friend to migrate to Germany where he could study for free at a University. Local laws changed and made it impossible for him to study any longer. Instead he started working at a local newspaper and made a documentary movie called’18 minutes civil courage’.
After 22 years he decided to go back to Iran, but realized soon after, that his home was now in Germany where he returned shortly after. He moved to Berlin in 2008 where costs of living where much lower than in the rest of the country and opened the Atelier Cafe in 2013. Rahim lives and works in his 20 sq meter apartment. He sells Cappuccino and makes portrait photographs. He has a warm personality and shares his stories and his home with everyone who wants to come in.The tiger is his life time companion. He received him from his mom after he was attacked as a boy by a leopard. He currently saves money to realize his dream and open a cultural center in Susa Iran.
