Beyond the Headlines: Women’s Resistance in Iran Through Art and Film
Do you remember when the images of women from Iran, fighting for their rights, were everywhere in the press?
These powerful photos made global headlines, shining a light on the incredible bravery of these women. However, the news, while essential, often gives us a one-sided view of events. The focus is usually on generating clicks and watch time, with many reporters not conducting their own deep research. Instead, they buy information from agencies, which means they often reproduce the biases or perspectives of those in power.
This is why I turn to art, movies, and graphic novels to explore the complexities of history and global events. Art, in its many forms, has the power to convey knowledge in ways that news reports cannot.
One example that helped me better understand Iran’s modern history is the graphic novel and later animated film, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. This autobiographical account of growing up during the Iranian Revolution of the 1970s, and later living in exile in France, gave me a deeper and more nuanced understanding of Iran than any news outlet could. It provided a personal lens through which to see the political and cultural shifts in the country.
Today, I want to recommend two more films that, like Persepolis, highlight the resilience and autonomy of women without turning them into symbols or tokens. What’s interesting is that each film uses a different approach to fiction.
Image: Human Rights Now
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014)
Directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, an American filmmaker of Iranian descent, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a vampire film with a twist. Set in a fictional Iranian city called Bad City, the movie blends elements of the Western genre with film noir, using striking black-and-white cinematography. The story follows a mysterious female vampire who roams the city’s streets at night, encountering its inhabitants, who are each grappling with their own struggles, from work to relationships.
This film stands out for its unique visual style and the way it weaves together horror and social commentary. It shows the challenges faced by its characters, particularly women, in a world shaped by both tradition and modern pressures. At the same time, it provides them with agency and autonomy, breaking away from typical portrayals of women in media.
Image: IMDB