In 1958, Ghaffari made one of the first neorealist films in Iranian cinema, Jonoub-e Shahr (South of the City). Because of its depictions of working class poverty the film was banned by the Shah's government, who feared the Soviet Union would use it as a propaganda tool to show the distressed economic condition of Iran's lower classes.[2] In 1963, a heavily edited version of the film entitled Reghabat Dar Shahr (Urban Rivalry) was finally released.