(NewsWorthy.news) – For the past two weeks, the Women in Cinema group and the Department of Visual and Media Arts at Grand Valley State University screened the first two films of the 4-part Women of Iranian Film collection.
On April 2nd, the group offered a collection of unedited short films by Iranian women filmmakers. Although the movie explored several Iranian political problems, censorship was the central focus.
Kate Levy, GVSU Visiting Professor of Photography and Padnos Distinguished Artist-in-Residence Mahsa Alafar, curated the project, which centers on Iranian women’s lives.
Because of the patriarchal theocracy in Iran, female filmmakers encounter substantial prejudice. One restriction in filmmaking is that females are required to wear headscarves the entire time. Unveiled women face heavy penalties and even imprisonment of up to 60 days.
Alafar chose short films with a provocative message about Iranian women in their censored world.
When compared to males, Iranian women experience much more prejudice and severe limitations. Singing or performing songs by themselves, dancing in public, having relationships before marriage, riding bicycles, and wearing clothing that does not entirely conceal one’s hair and body are some things they are not permitted to do. Everyday activities are seen as a revolt.
Everyone is subject to censorship, according to Alafar. The Iranian government will not screen any films that are in opposition to Islam or the laws of “common sense” that they have mandated.
Strangely, censorship may inspire innovative films from Iran and give viewers a glimpse that may vary from the mainstream narratives presented in Western media. The films chosen by Alafar reflect this.
Nonetheless, Alafar stressed that the Iranian government’s blatant censorship is unlikely to be transformed due to these films.
However, according to Alafar, Iranian women artists are now seeing their films shown at foreign film festivals and reaching a wider audience. She hopes that the wider distribution and awareness will lead to conversations that could facilitate change.
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