LOOK AT ME

Iran, 2004, 122 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Shahram Asadi.

Look at Me is a very strong film, important for Iran and accessible to audiences all around the world. It is a particularly strong film in its advocacy of women's rights. Many Iranian films about women take place in the major cities, especially Teheran. This film highlights the tribal traditions still prevalent in rural Iran and the domination of tribal elders and expectations of very strict legislation, especially the subordination of women. In this film, such tribal law comes up against the ordinary law of the city. However, for the women, there is such a pressure that the only way out is death.

The film uses popular genres to communicate its important social and political themes. Basically, the film is a murder mystery as well as a courtroom drama. We are faced with the murder at the beginning of the film, know practically nothing about the accused, and by means of flashbacks we fill in the story from her oppressed childhood, married at nine to pay her father's debts, with a miscarriage and becoming barren, running away from home - but being recognised in the city as a potential Olympic runner. This theme of sports and competitiveness is a very interesting subplot, a symbol of a way in which women can emerge in Iranian society.

The performances are excellent, the plotting is always interesting, the commercial aspects of the film and the polished craftsmanship ensure that it would have a popular box office appeal.

1. The impact of the film? Drama, melodrama, crime story, murder mystery, courtroom drama?

2. The structure of the film: the initial killing, the experience of the accused as she led the Iranian team, carrying the flag, being arrested? Her silence, her not wanting a lawyer, the beginning of the flashbacks, the testimony of the witnesses, the flashbacks building up the story and highlighting the oppression against women? The final resolution of the crime story?

3. The Teheran locations, the sports stadium, affluent society, the courts and hospitals? The contrast with the countryside, the village, the village homes? The musical score?

4. The title and its focus on the woman at the centre of the trial? The invitation to the audience not only to look at her but to try to understand her and what she had experienced?

5. The portrait of the heroine: the initial sequences with the knife, the blood, washing her blood from her sleeve, changing to the athletic uniform, the torch, her being arrested? Her fatalistic approach when arrested, taken to jail? Not wanting to be in jail? Not wanting a lawyer? Her silence? Her appearances in the court, not even giving her name, sitting quietly, watching? The background and seeing her as a little child through the eyes of the doctor, her skill at farm work, her care for her paralysed brother, her charm? Her being sold, the doctor's reaction, unable to help? The reasons for the sale? Her husband, his brutality, his beating her, her miscarriage, her being despised by the other wives and by the husband? Her relationship with the other members of the family? Her growing up, her ability to run, going home to see her sister and her mother and her brother? Avoiding her father? Her running to the market, her skills and trying to sell cloths? Her acquiring some money? Her husband discovering her being away, putting her in the shed? The young son letting her out, her taking the money, escaping? Her being found, her looking for the doctor, going to the drug house and being arrested, the doctor going bail for her, no charge? Her going to work in the hospital, her running after the mugger, the sportswoman seeing her, following her, discussing with her? Her improvement and competitiveness in sport, the sequences of her training? Her learning to read? The love of the brother of the sportswoman? Her being at home in the family? Her going back to the country and visiting her sister, glimpsing her mother? Her dismay at her photo in the paper? The build-up to the Olympics, her carrying the torch? Her husband appearing, the confrontation, her tripping him, his slashing his neck? The younger son and his attempted cover-up? Her running away, the arrest? The lack of verdict, her final speech in the court after the tribal elder gave the version of tribal law and condemnation of her? The vision of her mother, her passing through the thronging media and camera people, her throwing herself off the balcony? No other way out? The final image of her silhouetted standing on a cliff? A sympathetic and understanding portrait of a tormented, tortured and abused woman?

6. The sportswoman, at the beginning, her concern, her husband and brother and their efforts to find a lawyer? The discussions, the testimony in court, the recounting of the story of seeing her run, the discussions, taking her in, being a family to her, not asking questions? The husband and his sympathy? The brother, his falling in love, the portrait? Giving her books? Picking her up for the Olympics, his presence in court, answering the questions, his love for her? A sympathetic family?

7. Her own family, the father and his debt, selling her off according to tribal law, the approval of the tribal elder, the grief of the mother? Her sister and her visits to her? Her paralysed brother? Her not wanting her mother to see her, the shame, to be attacked by her father?

8. The lawyer, his fishing, seeing the woman burn herself on the boat, accepting the case? His assistant and the research, the behaviour in the court, the offer of testimony, his skill at presenting the defence? Getting the final evidence against the younger son?

9. The other lawyers, the prosecutor, his skill in presenting evidence and asking questions? The Iranian court style, the judges, no jury, the judge hearing the evidence? People being able to ask questions at will for witness value? The tradition of the accusation being brought by the members of the family, the sons and their vengeance, the wives - and seeing them in retrospect and their treatment of the heroine?

10. The sympathetic doctor, treating her when she was pregnant, helping her and liking her, helping her with the bail money, the working at the hospital?

11. The film as an attempt at contemporary Iranian feminism, the presentation of the situation of women, the legislation both civil and tribal, women as victims? A very strong narrative statement on the rights of women?