Maryam Keshavarz
Upon watching Circumstance, you wouldn’t believe that it’s Keshavarz’ first film. The storyline has an organic poetry that places her amongst other greats from Iranian cinema.
In the film, Atafeh (Nikohl Boosheri) and Shireen (Sarah Kazemy) take the audience through the unseen underground youth culture in Iran. Scenes of drug, sex, and parties are not surprising when it comes to films about youth, but the Western gaze on Iran would assume that due to its associations with Islam, society would be a lot stricter. Boundaries between sexuality are blurred by the two female protagonists, all the while Atafeh’s brother’s mind is occupied by Islamic fundamentalism, causing an inevitable clash.
In the film, Atafeh (Nikohl Boosheri) and Shireen (Sarah Kazemy) take the audience through the unseen underground youth culture in Iran. Scenes of drug, sex, and parties are not surprising when it comes to films about youth, but the Western gaze on Iran would assume that due to its associations with Islam, society would be a lot stricter. Boundaries between sexuality are blurred by the two female protagonists, all the while Atafeh’s brother’s mind is occupied by Islamic fundamentalism, causing an inevitable clash.
director MARYAM KESHAVARZ
year 2011
director of photography BRIAN RIGNEY HUBBARD
cast NIKOHL BOOSHERI, SARAH KAZEMY, REZA SIXO SAFAI and KEON MOHAJERI
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