Circumstance (2011)

A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's dangerous obsession.

Director:

Maryam Keshavarz

Writer:

Maryam Keshavarz

Stars:

Sarah Kazemy, Nikohl Boosheri, Reza Sixo Safai

11 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nikohl Boosheri	...	Atafeh Hakimi
Sarah Kazemy	...	Shireen Arshadi
Reza Sixo Safai	...	Mehran Hakimi
Soheil Parsa	...	Firouz Hakimi
Nasrin Pakkho	...	Azar Hakimi
Amir Barghashi	...	Mohammed Mehdi
Fariborz Daftari	...	Shireen's Uncle
Keon Alexander	...	Joey (as Keon Mohajeri)
Sina Amedson	...	Hossein
Amir Hossein Soleimani	...	Payam (as Amir Soleimani)
Siro Fazlian	...	Shireen's Grandmother
Elie Njeim	...	Club Drug Dealer
Joseph Fadel	...	Taxi Merci Driver
Milad Hadchiti	...	Yusef
Ghina Daou	...	Party Girl

Storyline

A wealthy Iranian family struggles to contain a teenager's growing sexual rebellion and her brother's dangerous obsession.

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Plot Keywords:

iranian | teenager | closeted lesbian | religious police | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

France USA Iran

Language:

Persian English French

Release Date:

8 February 2012 (France)

Also Known As:

Circunstância

Filming Locations:

Beirut, Lebanon

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$43,318, 28 August 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$441,404, 20 November 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marakesh Films, A Space Between, Bago Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Mehran stops to pray at the side of the road, he holds his hands like Shiites and his foot like Sunnis.

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Soundtracks

Party
Written by Zedbazi
Performed by Zedbazi

User Reviews

Love is...

CIRCUMSTANCE is a brave film from the respected filmmaker Maryam Keshavarz who both wrote and directed this film about contemporary mores and cultural taboos in Iran. It is a film that dares to create a story about family, the youth culture of clubs and drugs and all night music, about the Morality Police who carefully guard the standards of public (and private!) behavior, and about same sex liaisons. It is a beautifully photographed study of star-crossed lovers who happen to both be young teenage girls and the manner in which they cope with their love and with the family and world outside the sanctity of their breathtakingly erotic moments together. Because of the lack of sanctions of the themes of the film which is supposedly set in Tehran the film had to be shot in Lebanon: knowing this adds to the impact of the drama the film so carefully exposes.

Since any public expression of passion is forbidden between Keshavarz's two teenage female protagonists, it brings a whole other level of tension and dread to their shared attraction. Atafeh (Nikohl Boosheri) has the resources and security provided by her wealthy family that allows her to live a double life with her friend and eventual lover, Shireen (Sarah Kazemy). In order to fully explore their feelings, the young women escape into their fantasies of living in a more enlightened land such as Dubai, a haven which is tantamount to Oz. The life of teenage love is difficult enough, but it is even more difficult if that love is between two members of the same sex. Apparently Iran is a country where homosexual relationships can be punishable by death. Atafeh lives in a family of wealth and privilege with her parents (Soheil Parsa and Nasrin Pakkho) and brother, Mehran, (Reza Sixo Safai). Shireen is not of the same class: she lives with her Aunt and Uncle after being orphaned by her parents who were killed by the government for their immoral ways. Atahfeh and Shireen are two teenage school girls who begin as best friends and gradually discover that they are in love. The girls are also rebellious to Iran's strict religious and socialist ways, being caught up in Tehran's underground nightclub scene. Mehran, a former musician and drug addict, has become a radical Muslim and informant for the Morality Police, installing cameras in every room of his home to spy on his family, capturing all the comings and goings of each member of the household, including the trysts between Ayafeh and Shireen, and devises a plan with the Morality Police to marry Shireen after she and Atafeh are arrested by the morality police for partying at a night club. The young lovers discover the circumstances that force them into lives away from each other and the decisions they make (or are made for them) form the conclusion of this haunting film.

Apparently there is great resentment from many Persian viewers who feel the film does not project the real situation in Tehran or in Iran as a whole. This may be true, but the film is not a documentary: Keshavarz has taken an idea and molded with certain flavors and spices and delivers this brave little film by introducing the extraordinary beauty of the two leading actresses. The cast is solid and if the script could use some editing or re-sculpting it still delivers a concept about same sex love and the lack of acceptance that seems to be global. We rarely are able to see Persian films and this one is well worth attention. It is not meant to be factual: it is a story exotically told - and memorable.

Grady Harp