Roozi ke zan shodam (2000)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Marzieh Makhmalbaf

Writers:

Marzieh Makhmalbaf (dialogue)
Mohsen Makhmalbaf (writer)

Release Date:

8 March 2001 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

This is the story of women at three stages of life in Iran. The first part centers on a young girl on...

Awards:

8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

The Day I Became a Woman (International: English title)

Runtime:

Italy:78 min

Country:

Iran

Language:

Persian

Color:

Color

Certification:

South Korea:All | France:U | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:7 | UK:U

Company:

Makhmalbaf Productions

A treat to watch!

I saw this gem of a film a few months ago and it has lived with me ever since. There are lots of great things to talk about but I will only mention a few. I liked the striking images of the sea and the shore and the manner in which they are imbued with great meaning. The sea - which represents adventure, sensuality, fluidity, freedom and sex - is a constant motif throughout the film and is a joy to look at. I also liked the structure - reminiscent of Hemingway's short stories - where characters from one story seem to reappear in others.

But though connected through theme and also through the plot, the individual films retain a great level of distinctiveness. For instance, the second film remains unresolved at the end and the discussion of the two fellow riders in the third movie only have the effect of heightening that suspense. On the other hand, the third film has the effect of satisfactorily and unexpectedly wrapping up the first film: whereas the girl in the first film was denied the chance to enjoy the sea (and everything it represents), the old woman in the third film takes her revenge by completely inverting tradition. The image of the old woman and those motifs of domesticity being carried away on the sea is unusual but also funny. In putting not only herself but also her whole house on the sea, the old woman has inverted tradition and has the ultimate revenge.