The Day I Became a Woman (2000)
"Roozi ke zan shodam" (original title)

A film comprised of three interconnected vignettes that depict women at three stages of life in Iran. The first part centers on a young girl on her ninth birthday who is told that she can ... See full summary »

Director:

Marzieh Makhmalbaf

Writers:

Marzieh Makhmalbaf (dialogue), Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Stars:

Fatemeh Cherag Akhar, Hassan Nebhan, Shahr Banou Sisizadeh

8 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Fatemeh Cherag Akhar	...	Hava
Hassan Nebhan	...	Hassan
Shahr Banou Sisizadeh	...	Mother
Ameneh Passand	...	Grandmother
Shabnam Toloui	...	Ahoo
Sirous Kahvarinegad	...	Husband
Mahram Zeinal Zadeh	...	Osmann
Norieh Mahigiran	...	Rival Cyclist
Azizeh Sedighi	...	Hoora
Badr Iravani	...	Young Boy

Storyline

A film comprised of three interconnected vignettes that depict women at three stages of life in Iran. The first part centers on a young girl on her ninth birthday who is told that she can no longer play with the boys she had been playing with only the day before because she is now a woman. Told from the perspective of a 9-year-old girl who does not feel like or know what the word "woman" refers to, we see how devastatingly this affects both the girl and the boy with whom she had been friends. The second part is about a young woman who decides to enter a bicycle race against her husband's wishes. As first, the husband and then increasing numbers of men from her village ride beside her on horseback to convince her to return home. The race begins to symbolize a freedom that she desperately wants from the limitations that have been placed on her. Finally, the third part shows us an old woman who has come into some money and is now free to do what she wants. The way she chooses to use this...

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Plot Keywords:

girl | boy | bicycle race | bicycle | old woman | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian

Release Date:

8 March 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Dagen då jag blev en kvinna

Filming Locations:

Kish Island, Iran

Box Office

Budget:

$180,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$48,255 (USA) (6 April 2001)

Gross:

$344,235 (USA) (15 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Makhmalbaf Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the first sequence, the lollipop that Hava and Hassan pass between them grows and shrinks in size without regard to the passage of time.

User Reviews

Minimalism and Painful Clarity

Having followed Iranian cinema for a while I didn't think I was in for a surprise but Meshkini (director) managed to blow me away with the minimalist approach to depicting the fundamental issues of Iranian society. The elegance, minimalism and eloquence of this picture manage to depict the role of a woman in Iran with painful clarity.

"Roozi khe zan shodam" is an essential and defining piece of cinema.