What do we sacrifice for the ones we love? Each morning, Fariba, an Iranian woman in her sixties, applies her makeup, says goodbye to her husband, and walks to her parents’ house to help them with their daily activities. Her brother takes the night shift. Their mother, affected by Alzheimer’s, no longer recognizes her husband, who is himself aging and becoming increasingly weaker. This feminist film about the complexities of devotion evokes a contemporary Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles by Chantal Akerman, putting audiences in the position of voyeur to observe daily domestic routines like cleaning, cooking and dressing. Crafted with elegant sensitivity, understated humour and painterly framing, the film is accentuated by traditional Persian colours, patterns and music. Glimpses into Fariba’s private life and personal dreams provide a contrast to her repetitive actions and confront us with our own lived experiences as caretakers—past, present, future. At the end we are left to question: Can Fariba be set free? Is freedom even possible? Simone Estrin.
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Distributor and Sales Agent: Raft Films