Bemani (2002)

This deeply moving film opens on Madina, a young carpet weaver, and her deepening friendship with a handsome soldier. However, any hopes of a promising future are soon dashed to pieces when Madina’s past comes to light. We also meet the bright, intelligent Bemani, who, upon being forced to marry an older man, goes to extreme lengths to cancel the wedding. Meanwhile, young medical student Nasim dreams of university, but she too finds herself marrying against her will. Hope is built up and knocked down again in this thought-provoking work by Dariush Mehjrui, the icon of the Iranian New Wave movement. The film often takes on a documentary-like format, and interviews with central characters create a sense of realism. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.