15 August 2022

Women without men

 Women without Men 2009

  • Director: Shirin Neshat Shoja Azari
  • Based on the book: no
  • Cast: Shabnam Toloui, Pegah Ferydoni, Arita Shahrzad, Orsolya Tóth
  • Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
    • None of them
  • Why? Sounded good.
  • Seen: 11 August 2022   

             Four women in Iran, 1953. Merin (Toloui) whose brother is insisting that she get married.   Faezeh (Ferydoni), her pious friend.  Fakhri (Shahrzad), a wealthy middle-aged woman who leaves her husband for an old lover. Zarin (Tótj), a prostitute driven mad by her profession.

       Iran is rising against England. The CIA foments the coup and puts the Shah back in power.

       The film is visually extraordinary, stunningly beautiful. The story is vague, the loosely connecting thread the four women who find different ways to throw off the yoke of male oppression. It’s dreamlike, even hallucinatory at times, which is artistic, to be, sure, but confusing.

       No matter. It’s well worth seeing, perhaps more than once. 

4* of 5   

 

 

 

 

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