Forced Revolution By Iranian Women

In conversation with Iranian rebel woman filmmaker Nahid Hassanzadeh.

- Sudipto Mullick

Towards the fag-end of the movie, 'Silent Glory', by Iranian film-maker Nahid Hassanzadeh, which eventually picked up The Royal Bengal Golden Tiger Trophy - Best Jury Award at the 28th KIFF in the 'International Competition: Innovation in Moving Images', the female protagonist Rohan, essayed by Jila Sahi clambers up on a dining table and starts dislodging the hanging tear-drop crystals from the overhead chandelier, as if suddenly overwhelmed by a messiah-complex, to distribute it to the astounded gathered. A 35 year old Rohan, unable to attract suitors, succumbs to marrying Mahi, a veteran village teacher. Mahi, who becomes the supervisor of a bucolic shrine, of whose healing power, he suspects. Rohan, who lives in a small room of that shrine, eventually hosts a lad who has taken refuge in the sanctuary of the fane to be healed. When the boy dies suddenly, Rohan, too, loses all her theological beliefs like Mahi. The fanatic villagers find it increasingly difficult to tolerate the presence of two heathens in the shrine and the village anymore. The film limits this nebulous theological faith of Rohan.

Catching up with Hassanzadeh after the screening we try to comprehend:

Did Rohan confuse faith with miracles?