WOMEN'S PRISON

Iran, 2002, 104 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Manijeh Hekmat.

Women's Prison is a very strong Iranian film, written and directed by a woman director, focusing on central characters who portray women in prison. The film shows the possibilities of social critique in Iranian cinema at the beginning of the 21st century, although the film had some difficulties with the censor. It can be seen as a prelude in story form to the prize-winning Iranian film, The Circle, showing what happened to three women on the day that they were released from prison, the impossibility of their bettering their lives because of their prison records. (The Circle continued to be banned from public screening in Iran for several years after its winning the Golden Lion in Venice 2000.)

The film covers a period of almost twenty years, focusing principally on the governor of the prison who is strong-minded, wants to be compassionate, experiences all the difficulties of trying to maintain order in a prison. The other principal character is a young woman, a troublemaker who nevertheless becomes a leader for her fellow prisoners, decides to remain in the jail, unable to leave it, becoming a more respected older woman, a role model for the younger prisoners. The comparison between the lives of the two women is very striking and the film is an absorbing experience both for understanding of Iran, the place of women, the significance of prisons and their effect on the lives of the inmates.

1. An insight into Iran in the '80s and the '90s? Society, women's place in society, change?

2. The Iranian film industry, their social concern, personal stories, the aftermath of the revolution, the role of Islam? The war with Iraq and its ever-present memories? A secularised society? The problems in Iran at the beginning of the 21st century?

3. The prison, the location, the focus on the corridor, the cells, the office, solitary, the yard? The glimpse only of outside? The musical score?

4. The structure of the film: entering with Taherah, the status quo in the prison, her challenge, the possibility of change, her treatment of the prisoners, the various episodes illustrating her style, the reaction of the prisoners, her successes and failures, seventeen years, the build-up to the differences in twenty years, the takeover, Mitra exiting, Taherah staying within the prison?

5. Mitra as the focus of the plot, at a young age, the reason for her being in jail, the interactions with Taherah, Taherah wanting to break her? Her experience of the changes over the twenty years?

6. The situation of the prison, the corridor and its mess, the groups and their defiance, Mitra and her being a spokesperson, the other leaders in the group, the age of the women, old and young, the pregnant woman, their appearances, clothes?

7. Taherah and her arrival, her work with the assistant who was softer, the confrontation of the women, her tactics, discipline, solitude for the leaders, putting the women in the yard, no food, cold, no visitors? Searching and confiscating? The years passing with her authority, imposition, her cruelty, wanting to crush rebellion? The role of the law, rules, superiors' whims? Her hopes for change?

8. The portrait of Mitra, as a young woman, her crime, her leadership of the women, their relying on her, the importance of her helping with the birth? Her background as a midwife? The possibility of her leaving, the difficulty of bail? The appeal to the judges? Her defiance of Taherah, Taherah changing her attitude towards Mitra? Finally the application, Mitra refusing to go because she had no-one outside? The new breed, her being seen as the auntie, the den mother? Helping the young ones, the experience of violence? The drugs? Her discovery of Essie, telling her story, Essie's escape and return? Her finally deciding to leave so that she could help Essie?

9. The year 2000 and the changes, the number of young girls, the crowding, their insolent behaviour, feeling freer, street kids and the drugs, their attitudes towards authority? The violence, the drugs, the deaths in the ward?

10. The transition to the 21st century? Mitra and Taherah as old Iran, the way that they confronted the new? Taherah continued to be imprisoned as Mitra left?

11. Themes of the status of women in Iran, men? Prisons as symbol of the quality of life and standards in a country?