Circumstance is not only a story of an adolescent friendship between two young women but also tells us of the powerful needs for self-expression in the face of oppression. Whilst providing us with a highly stylised look into Iranian youth culture, the film’s basis is of a relationship up against the boundaries of class and culture.
Shireen and Atafeh are best friends, with opposite class backgrounds. Their relationship turns flirtatious and then eventually results in sexual discovery. Iranian cultural traditions and restrictions on women’s behaviour are tactically given to us through the characterisation of Atafeh’s brother, Mehran. A recovering drug addict, he displaces his addiction with policing at the local mosque and begins to spy on his family with CCTV cameras.
Meanwhile, the two women befriend two local young men, Joey and his American cousin, Hossein. After spending time enjoying their youth by driving around listening to music and clubbing, Hossein talks the girls into dubbing Farsi over the film Milk and TV series Sex and the City. Hossein believes there’s a political message in Gus Vant Sant’s Milk that could inspire Iranian culture. These scenes are interesting and telling as they give us an impression that the girls aren’t so motivated by their cultures’ traditional rules and conventions, but instead more charged by sexual freedom.
The film is confidently directed by Maryam Keshavarz. Take a look at the trailer and you’ll notice one of the taglines shown is: ‘In the eyes of some they are sinners. In the minds of others they are lost’. A very thought-provoking piece of art that we're sure you’ll enjoy.
Winner of the Audience Award prize and Nominated for The Grand Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
*Persian-American film-maker deserves plaudits for her ambition.*
Catherine Shoard, The Guardian
Ashley Clark
Watch the trailer for yourself:
Circumstance is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 2nd October and Thursday 4th October.
No comments:
Post a Comment