DONYA

Iran, 2002, 105 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Manouchher Mosayeri.

Donya is the name of a very strong middle-aged woman. She has been overseas and returns to Iran to confront the real estate agent who has taken over the family home after it was confiscated. She feels that he has destroyed her father. She approaches the man, a sixty-year-old who has grown tired of his wife, irritated with his children, and relies on them as servants to his well-being.

Donya confronts him in the office, claiming that one of his assistants proposed to her. She then demands to have the house when the estate agent offers to give her compensation for her trouble. Almost miraculously, they fall in love. He is infatuated with her, accompanies her everywhere, listens to her advice. He dyes his hair, shaves his beard, goes exercising, learns to play tennis - and the film is very wry in these sequences poking fun at a deluded middle-aged man trying to regain his youth. However, Donya is a very serious character, agrees to the marriage, but wants the estate agent to tell his wife and family. He is reluctant to do this.

Ultimately, the family who have been sent out of the city while the house is being painted, return and his suspicious behaviour is uncovered. He then discovers the truth about Donya and her manipulation to get back possession of the family house.

The film is grim in these sequences, focusing on justice, double-dealing. Finally, the man is left alone wandering the streets, in disillusionment over what he has done with his life.

The film blends realism, an autumn kind of romance, satire at the behaviour of the estate agent and social criticism of manipulation of property and wealth in Iran.