PASSION OF THE MAIDEN
Iran, 2007, 80 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Seyed Masoud Atyabi.
Passion of the Maiden is a film for Iranian audiences, very difficult for western audiences who do not understand their religious background and traditions.
The film focuses on a young woman, Jeanette, from an Armenian Christian background. She is engaged to marry Andre, a Muslim. However, there are tensions and she is nervous. According to old traditions, her parents had made a promise to an Islamic saint that their daughter would have children and have given her a Muslim name, Fatima. She is embarrassed by this name.
The situation changes when she knocks down a woman in the street and does not stop. She is bothered by this, goes to the hospital, sees a family group lamenting the death of a woman who was run over. She sees the grief of the girl’s fiancé, follows him and he eventually discovers her pursuit. They become friends and she is alienated from her fiancé. She is also angry at the preparations for the marriage celebration – and the blend of Islamic art with Christian art. She also seeks the counsel of the priest.
To understand the background, the family are Armenian Christians. The Armenians also have some Islamic devotions incorporated into their spirituality. The film focuses also on the life in the church, ceremonies, icons, painted screens and a picture of the Sacred Heart which is to be completed. The rest of the plot involves the dead girl’s fiancé, his finishing a painting for a man who was gassed during the Iraq- Iran war – and who also dies.
The climax comes when it is revealed that the woman that Jeanette hit did not die – there was another accident in the street. Relieved, she accompanies the dying artist in an ambulance. They are stopped by a celebration of Imam Hussein and the ritual celebration and pageantry including the burning of a tent in the city square. However, the film combines this celebration with the image of the Sacred Heart, a dove flying through the church and dropping a feather – symbolising images of healing.
The film is full of coincidences, is rather turgid in its melodramatic plot – but is of interest in the presentation of the coexistence of Islam and Christianity in Iran.
1.Audience interest in the religious themes? Islam, Christianity, the various traditions, the interweaving?
2.The city of Tehran, the streets, homes, churches, the city squares and re-enactments of theatrical rituals? The musical score?
3.The title, the focus on Jeanette, her suffering for various reasons, her name, her family, the engagement, Islam versus Christianity or collaboration, the hit-run accident and her conscience? Her compassion for the dead girl’s fiancé?
4.The interaction between Jeanette and her fiancé, the tensions, the meeting in the restaurant, her behaviour, the tranquillisers, his looking at her purse, her anger? The consequence with the hitting of the woman in the street? Her stopping, her imagination, the reality, her leaving? Her later possibly running over the cat and her getting out to search?
5.Going to the hospital, seeing the grieving family, the sadness of the fiancé? Her following him, stalking him? His discovery, especially at the church? Her inability to explain? The friendship, going to the artist’s house, meeting the artist, seeing the painting? Understanding the fiancé more? Their discussions, religious matters? The later discovery in the church, the fiancé and his anger? Her helping the artist, the putting up of the painting? The later helping the artist to go to the hospital after his collapse? Accompanying him in the ambulance? Her receiving the news that there was another accident, that she was not responsible for the death? Her relief? The possibility of forgiveness? Her relationship with her father, Andre’s parents, going to the photography store, taking the photos? Her finally seeing the photos? Her anger at the setting up of the Islamic imagery in the garden, tearing them down? Her final acceptance? Her relationship with her mother, visiting her in hospital? The possibility of a reconciliation and a marriage?
6.The fiancé, his manner, tension with Jeanette, following her, suspicious? The final reconciliation?
7.The grieving family, the dead girl? The fiancé, his personality, his puzzle about Jeanette, discussion about her name? Showing her the art? The painter, finishing the Sacred Heart, the installation?
8.The parent generation, the man in the photo shop, the cousin, Jeanette’s father? The promises and prayers? The celebrations? The wise advice? The cousin and her understanding and help? The sick mother and her looking out the window, passive?
9.The artist, the experience of the war, his inability to finish the picture, his death? The atmosphere of the miracle and his opening his eyes?
10.The religious imagery for the Christians, the Armenians, the rather Protestant-like service with the altar, the missal and Bible enshrined, the two leading the prayer, the singing of the hymn? The image of the church? The contrast with later and the more eastern traditions, the icons, the screens? The picture of the Sacred Heart as an icon, the western suggestions? The characters thinking it was beautiful? Its role in the miracle, the close-ups, the eyes? The dove flying through the church, the dropping of the feather?
