Energetic, funny and unashamedly sentimental, this is a warm-hearted comedy written and directed by Iranian-American film-maker Maryam Keshavarz, even if her semi-autobiographical story about life in a traditional Iranian family in New Jersey feels more than a little familiar from past movies about second-generation growing pains. But Keshavarz cranks up the charm, and the feelgood factor makes it an easy watch – despite some of the gags feeling more suited to a TV sitcom.
In the 2000s, Leila (Layla Mohammadi) is a young filmmaker who dresses up for a Halloween party in a unique outfit called a “burqa-kini.” This outfit consists of a niqab covering her face and a neon bikini showing her bottom half, along with striking eyeliner. Despite identifying as a lesbian, Leila has a one night stand with a man in drag (Tom Byrne) at the party and becomes pregnant as a result. Through flashbacks set in the 1980s, we see a witty and clever Leila as a child, the youngest of nine siblings, struggling to find her place and sense of self. However, in the present day, Leila and her mother Shireen (Niousha Noor) have a strained relationship. Shireen, who is determined to preserve their Iranian heritage, refuses to accept that her daughter is gay and claims that Leila is deliberately hurting her. (“You do this to hurt me!”) Leila often narrates her own story through a voiceover, which can be a bit excessive at times.
The Persian adaptation may appear slightly hazy at times, but it gains depth and strength when the narrative switches to 1960s Iran where 13-year-old Shireen (played by Kamand Shafieisabet) takes center stage. She interrupts the narration to share her own account: a marriage at 13 to a 22-year-old doctor, followed by an unexpected pregnancy. The true reason for their migration to the US unfolds and sharply contrasts with the family-approved version. Overall, the film offers a heartfelt and endearing story, although it may not be thought-provoking. Shooting was completed a few weeks prior to the protests surrounding the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly breaching Iran’s dress code. Poignantly, the film is dedicated to all “brave Iranian women”.
Source: theguardian.com
