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By William Page
Directed by Maryam Keshavarz
Iranian cinema has been in the spotlight in recent years, with films such as A Separation, getting critical acclaim for their portrayal of their society and a plethora of issues. So here at FilmDoo we thought we would review a few Iranian films from recent years to give a glimpse of one of the most interesting and thought provoking producers of non-English language movies.
Written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz this Iranian drama was far too provocative to be filmed in Tehran so shooting took place in Lebanon. Freed from the constraints of Iranian censorship, Keshavarz is able to portray young life in conservative and religious Tehran with parties, drugs, underground art and sexuality all glimpsed. It’s a thought-provoking insight into a society and a way of life which we would, frankly, have no idea existed.
The movie deals with a taboo relationship between two teenage girls, Atafeh (Nikohl Boosheri) and Shireen (Sarah Kazemy) who also have to deal with changes taking place in their families as Atafeh’s brother Mehran (Reza Sixo Safai) becomes increasingly fundamentalist.
Keshavarz is able to capture the conflict the youth are experiencing between wanting to live free and liberal life’s whilst also adhering to the rules of an increasingly conservative and restrictive society. It’s a very real conflict which is taking place across many places in the Middle East.
It is a well directed and acted film providing an insight into a society which most people are never likely to be able to experience first hand, which is certainly worth seeing as an introduction to Iranian society.
Watch Circumstance now at FilmDoo.com. (UK & Ireland only)
