Shayda
Summary
The directorial debut of Noora Niasari , Shaydais a torturesome but patrician exploration of an Persian woman ’s lifespan after escaping an scurrilous husband in Australia . From the film ’s possible action scenery to its final moments , Niasari exhibits empathy while sensitively handling a touchy topic . Shaydais sorrowful , distressing , and acute ; the moving picture , which was also written by Niasari , is equally full of sexual love for Persian culture as it is a account about trauma . pad by an emotionally sensitive and heartbreaking performance byHoly Spider’sZar Amir Ebrahimi , Shaydaexplores the formidable , arduous journey of its deed character with great care .
arrange in 1995 , the drama’sopening scene sees Shayda ( Amir Ebrahimi ) and six - year - quondam girl Mona ( Selina Zahednia ) at the airport . They ’re not taking a head trip or fleeing Australia ; rather , Mona is being teach what to do if she ’s kidnapped by her father , Hossein ( Osamah Sami ) , who is break visitation rights to see Mona each Saturday . soon after , we learn that Shayda and Mona are ride out in a woman ’s protection following Shayda ’s escape from her domestically abusive husband . Joyce ( Leah Purcell ) , the cleaning woman who runs the shelter , is help her build a caseful for her divorce and detainment visitation . Set during Nowruz , the Iranian New Year , Shaydafollows the eponymous character through trepid outings and loving , joyful moments as she attempt to make a new life sentence for herself and Mona .
Shaydais specific in its report and ethnical metre , but it also showcases the ways in which domestic abuse affects woman from around the world . Shayda is surrounded by woman from various backgrounds while live at the women ’s shelter , each of whom is work through their own domestic trauma . For Shayda , it takes all of her will power to move forward , and she ’s often paralyze by reverence and paranoia . It ’s unmanageable to hide from the local Persian community , some of whom ostracize her because they see her divorcement as more offensive than anything she ’s rifle through . Shayda ’s resolve is solid , but the picture show explores the difficulties she faces at every turn , thoughtfully and tenderly showcasing the range of emotion amidst the turmoil .
Strength does n’t make things easy , however , and Niasari gives Shayda the distance to be lamentable , frightened , and joyful in adequate mensuration . Amir Ebrahimi bright and sensitively captures Shayda ’s every look . Her eyes dash every which way of life while in public space , and her tremors and breathing reveal the tension she carries in her body . Crucially , Amir Ebrahimi ’s expressive eyes tell us everything about Shayda at any given moment , and the astuteness is retrieve in between her performance and Niasari ’s gorgeous , move script . Osamah Sami as Hossein is great in a supporting purpose . The actor portray Hossein with handling and barely there patience that could catch fire to anger at any give moment . It ’s a quiet restrain operation that builds tautness over the course of the film .
Sherwin Akbarzadeh ’s cinematography offers close - ups of Shayda and Mona , and the photographic camera work gives the picture show a claustrophobic , tyrannical palpate that never lease up . It ’s a manifestation of Shayda ’s situation , bring us up close and personal with all that ’s going on while heightening the sense of loneliness and despair Amir Ebrahimi display . Niasari is n’t all about the harrowing aspects of Shayda ’s life , though , and the writer - director makes indisputable to inculcate the film with light moments filled with sexual love and taste for Iranian traditions that Shayda instills in Mona . These scenes are underscored by the trauma Shayda is forced to relive and work through , but it make the soft scenes all the more special and heartening .
Shayda is endeavor to make the best of a annihilating , painful billet to give her daughter a better life . Luckily , we ’re not subjected to any uttermost violence against Shayda , either by way of flashback ( as is the tendency ) or in the present tense . Shayda reliving her harm through words is enough to capture the extent of pain and violence without having to see it play out . Niasari cautiously and assuredly handles an vivid and emotional story with ease and vulnerability . With her employment onShayda , Niasari is a film producer whose oeuvre we should keep an optic out for .
Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Selina Zahednia in Shayda
Shaydascreened at the 2023 Middleburg Film Festival , and will unfreeze in limited theatre on December 1 . The film is 117 minute farsighted and blackleg PG-13 for thematic cloth ask domestic abuse , some violence and language .
Shayda is a dramatic event film by writer - conductor Noora Niasari . An Iranian female parent on the political campaign from her husband finds a respite from her chaotic life story for her and her daughter in an Australian women ’s protection . However , their freedom is threatened when her husband tracks them down .
Zar Amir Ebrahimi in Shayda
Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Selina Zahednia in Shayda
