THE GIRL IN THE SNEAKERS

Iran, 2001, 85 minutes. Colour.
Pegah Ahngarani, Majid Hajizadeh.
Directed by Rasul Sadrameli.

The Girl in the Sneakers is one of the early films of Rasul Sadrameli, award-winning director from Iran, especially with I Am Taraneh – Fifteen.

The film is a simple story about a young woman and a young man in Tehran. She comes from a very strict family who want to shield her and assume that her friendship, platonic, with the young man is to be viewed with suspicion. She is taken by the police, interrogated, the young man is interned and also interrogated. The girl decides to run away from home, finds all kinds of strange experiences in the city at night, is befriended by some sympathetic people, meets her boyfriend again after many phone calls. They discuss the situation – and part.

Iranian films often show more socially-minded films as well as dwelling on the war between Iraq and Iran. However, this is a film which takes teenagers seriously, their emotions, their place in their families, the oppressive nature and authoritarianism of Iranian parents.

1. A film about ordinary Iranian teenagers? The beginning of the 21st century?

2. The background of Iran, the city of Tehran, adolescents and the family situations, the vigilance of parents, their taking action to protect their children?

3. The photography of the city, the day hours, the walks in the park? Homes, police stations? The night sequences, the touch of terror for the young girl? The poorer areas? The menacing atmosphere? Friendly atmosphere? The musical score?

4. The title, the focus on the young girl? Her character? Lively? Walking in the park with Aideen? The nature of their conversation, fanciful? The warmth of the friendship? His character, his being sympathetic? Imagining a future? Their relationship?

5. The parents, the discovery of what their daughter was doing? The severe reaction? At the police station? The interrogation? Presuming the worst? The physical examination and the declaring she was a virgin? Her going back home? Her parents forbidding her to see the young man? Their estimation of him – the worst?

6. The young man, his family? Their concern? The interrogations, the presumptions? His being allowed home? The family protecting him? His not being allowed to take the phone calls?

7. The young girl, her decision to run away? The frequent phone calls, talking with the boy’s sister, the messages? Her growing frustration? Her decision, the discussions?

8. In the night, wandering the city, the time, people talking to her? The unsavoury characters? The friendly characters? Their understanding her? Providing an opportunity for her to meet the boy?

9. Aideen and his eventually turning up? What had happened to him, his parents’ surveillance? Their talk, the relationship, the probably of running away, travelling? The impossibilities, impracticalities?

10. The open resolution of the film? The girl at fifteen? The boy a bit older? Resuming their ordinary lives, with their families? Their future?