FACING MIRRORS

Iran, 2011, 98 minutes, Colour.
Shayesteh Irani.
Directed by Negar Azarbaijani.

Facing Mirrors is a strong Iranian drama about transgender issues. It won an award from the Interfaith Jury at the 2011 Fajr Film Festival.

The film focuses on a young woman whose husband has been unjustly jailed for fraud by his partners. She drives a taxi part-time as well as working in the fashion industry in order to get money for her young son. The other aspect of the narrative is about a young girl who wants to get her passport renewed so that she can go to Germany for an operation that will change her into a man. She is helped by a cousin, but is thwarted by her father and brother who have an arranged marriage for her. When she tries to leave Teheran, she is attacked by some men and rescued by the woman taxi driver.

The film becomes something of a road movie, the odd couple together, the taxi driver shocked at the situation, yet feeling that she should help, the family taking back the young woman and preparing her for the wedding, the taxi driver giving her shelter and then confronting the father and the brother so that they will have some kind of compassion on their daughter. She arranges that the young woman be able to go to the airport and fly to Germany for the operation.

Perhaps it is rather unexpected to have a film about transgender in Iran. However, the film announces that Ayatollah Khomeini said that such surgery was in harmony with sharia law and that for some time there have been thousands of such operations in Iran.

However, the value of the film is in its objectivity, not indulging in any prurient curiosity, but rather focusing on the state of mind and emotions of the young girl who wants to be a boy, her behaviour, her attempts to get her passport, her experiences at the hands of her family. The film is also a journey for the taxi driver, a rather more simple woman who at first thinks that this situation is a sin, but gradually is influenced by her heart and emotions, appreciating what is happening to the young woman and going to make a stand with her family. She has a good effect on the brother who collaborates with her to help the girl escape and leave the country.

The film raises the issues well, the film is well acted, a very sympathetic performance from the taxi driver. At first look, the central character might be judged as being played by a male actor. However, it is played by an actress who has had her head shaved and adopts the manner of a boy, most convincingly.

A good solid drama – but one which raises many questions and challenges values.

1. The impact of the film, its humanity, understanding and tolerance?

2. Iran and the issues of gender, political policy, sharia law, the surgery in Iran? Iranians going to Europe, especially Germany for such surgery? The personal focus, the gender confusion and its effect on the person concerned? The background of religious issues, sin? The statistical information at the end?

3. The city and homes, workplaces, prisons, the neighbourhoods and the streets, the countryside, the roads, the mountains, the cafes? The realism? The musical score?

4. The title, the indication of gender and opposites? Indicating the reality: physical, psychological, emotional? Ability and inability to cope? Solutions?

5. The introduction and the ending? Rana and her looking in the mirror, at herself, feminine? Her song? Going to visit her husband, Sadegh in prison? The visit, their talk, love and tenderness, audience puzzle about the case? The end, Sadegh released, the happiness of the couple? The symbol of the tulip cup?

6. Rana’s story, Ali and her work, the bride, the song, the friend at work, looking after her son? Her mother-in-law and her presence? The detail of the household? Driving the taxi, the money, the hours?

7. The taxi-driving, at night, the clients, the women and their smoking, their commenting about a woman driver? Rana wanting to avoid trouble?

8. The introduction to Adineh and Marjan? Cousins, going to the passport office, the female and the scarf, Adineh changing into Eddie, driving the car, speeding, annoying the police? Having her brother’s licence? The interrogation at the station, her father coming, his negative reaction, taking Adineh home, the wedding plan?

9. Adineh and her story, as a child, the loss of her mother, her brother and cousin, her acting as a male? Going to Germany? The doctors, the hormones? The letter? The lie from her father, bringing her home? The plan, escaping from her family, the car, taking it to the car wash, the lift, her being attacked, Rana rescuing her? The discussions, the deal, the offer of the money to take her to her destination, the phone call to home, the meal together?

10. Rana and her hesitation, her fears, thinking the issue was a sin? Her not wanting to drive with Eddie as a male? Inappropriate? The argument, her being hit, the crash?

11. Rana in hospital, her recovery, Adineh and her presence, paying, the repairs for the car? The discussions and Rana agreeing to take Adineh to Teheran? Inviting her to stay? Rana and her being ashamed of her attitudes?

12. Adineh shaving, Rana’s friend seeing her, the issue of money and payment, Adineh playing with the little boy, the joy of the family together, Ali and his wearing the scarf – and his mother’s outburst against him wearing women’s clothes?

13. Marjan, the phone call, going to the post office, Adineh’s father abducting her, keeping her at home, the dressing as the bride?

14. Rana, the comments from the neighbours, paying back the debts, the gossip? Her friend from work and her reactions?

15. Rana’s visit, confronting Adineh’s father, talking with her brother? The stances of the father, his sternness?

16. The brother, his change of heart, his previous behaviour, driving the car, letting Adineh go, Adineh going to Rana and the drive to the airport?

17. Adineh in Germany, about to undergo the operation? Her mother’s jewels? Pawning them? The deal? Her paying Sadegh’s debt and having him released?

18. The satisfactory ending, for all parties?

19. Audience response to the theme? The continued references to what was male and what was female? Challenging issues of gender, sexuality? Tolerance and understanding?