20. Radiograph of A Family; movie review

 

RADIOGRAPH OF A FAMILY

Cert TBA

82 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

"I wonder what it is like to live through a war or a revolution?"

It feels as if Mrs W and I ask versions of that question every time we watch the news.

In Radiograph of A Family, we have a unique inside view of the tumultuous events in Iran in the 1970s and 80s.

Firouzeh Khosrovani was a child when the Shah's reign ended and Ayatollah Khomeini took over,  shifting the country from a largely Western culture to extreme devotion to Islam and a form of Sharia Law.

She begins her documentary by describing the wedding of her mother to a photograph.

Her mum and dad had met in Iran and he had gone down all of the proper roads to persuade her family that they should marry despite their 18-year age difference.

But he feared losing his place at a prestigious Swiss university if he took time away to be wed.

Consequently, she flew to Switzerland to be with him after going through the official ceremony in Iran.

Just think about that. A totally naive young woman, brought up as a devout Muslim being sent away to a western country (where she cannot speak the language let alone understand the culture) during the swinging 60s.

Anyway, she tries to settle in to the student scene but feels uneasy about life away from the religious norms.

When she becomes pregnant with Firouzeh, the couple have to decide whether to stay in Switzerland as the prospective father wishes or return to Iran as his wife wants.

As time goes on and radical Islamic ideology confronts secularism, they become more entrenched in their views and Firouzeh is caught between them.

Khosrovani combines old family photographs with footage of Iran and Switzerland which are relevant to the film's context. 

They demonstrate the distinct differences between the western and Islamic worlds and show why she was constantly forced to choose between her parents.

Hers is an unusual perspective on growing up in the 20th century with imposition on one side and acceptance from the other.

It is an individual story but one which can all appreciate and I, for one, am glad she told it.

Reasons to watch: Unique and engaging story

Reasons to avoid: A tad monotone

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Iran's constitution, adopted after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, proclaims equality for men and women under Article 20, while mandating legal code adhering to Sharia law. 

The final word. Firouzeh Khosrovani: "(My mother) was touched profoundly [when she watched the film]. She entirely acknowledged the imaginary dialogues with my father before I was born. She appreciated the conversational tone of the film, the narrative arc, the visual aspect, music – everything. She congratulated me and hugged me." Kouzi Productions

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