1. +
Small Scale Presentation:
Part Four
By Charlotte Beaird

2. +
What is your investigation
question/statement?
Representations of women in post 1990’s
Iranian Cinema.

3. +
What were your thoughts on
your investigation before
carrying out any research?
I thought that the subject would be far more difficult to get in to, as I
assumed it would be particularly hard to find any information on Iranian
women in films. As I assumed that Iranian men would not put women in
their films or talk about them often. Obviously beforehand I did not
realise that it was the rest of the world, that took an interest in Iranian
women and had a lot of research on their representation within Iranian
films.
I thought that it would be an interesting subject, as I thought their
would be a lot of predjuices world-wide about Iranian women. I thought
that the films choices would be a lot harder as I assumed their would not
be that many to pick from. Overall I thought that it would be an
extremely difficult topic to get secondary research on. But this is what
interested me in the beginning, the extensive research.

4. +
What film is your focus film and
why?
The film Persepolis, is my focus film for my small scale
project. This is the first Iranian film I have ever seen.
Although it was not made in Iran, it is based around their
history. I saw it years ago and it sparked an interest in
Iranian cinema and in particular the treatment of women.
The film focuses around a lead role, Marjane and her life
in Iran, I felt as if I needed to be my focus film as it
showed a balance in Iranian cinema. As she shows that
she understands multiple views in Iran, also that she
see’s all of the bad factors about her countries ethos and
that she has left there now. This shows that her film was
the best focus film for my project as it offers a leveled
ground, that I can choose riskier and more controversial
films as my second and third choices.

5. +
What additional films have you
chosen and why?
I have chosen the films “The Circle” and “Ten”, I chose the film
“The Circle” because it represented the voice of women who by
society are seen as refugees. It offers the chance to see all of
the rules against women in Iran and how restricted their lives
are. I chose the film “Ten” as it zoomed in and focused more on
personal lives, of families and friends how their relationships
work. It takes you in to the personal lives of Iranian women and
how their relationships with their friends and family work.
Overall I chose both of these films as they took you in to the
lives of particular Iranian women, the ones in which Iranian
men couldn’t care less about. Of which these women’s stories
would never have been told otherwise. Also all of my films
involve real life people and their true stories, this is a factor in
which greatly interests me and empowers my passion within my
small scale project.

6. + Discuss specific scenes from your
films that have helped your
investigation.
 The scene that involves Marjane from “Persepolis”
singing “eye of the tiger”. This scene has helped my
work, as it has made me intrigued in to researching
Iranian clubs for women in Great Britain and what they
get away with in Britain that they never could in Iran.
 The scene were the mother and her friend are talking
and her friend takes of her head-dress in “Ten”. It has
made me want to research relationships between men
and women in Iran and how it is heavily dominated by
the man. Also why women cannot take off their Head-
dress.
 The scene were the women abandons her child in “The
Circle”. Made me want to research why mothers had to
do that, to save their children.

7. +
What have you found out from
secondary research?
 Persepolis: “Buying clandestine Iron Maiden Cassettes or making wine.”
–stuff against the law
“By 1982, the Iran-Iraq war was raging.”
“The film’s fidelity to the source could deter audiences.”
“Incompatibility between Islamic fundementalism and “decadent”
Western values.”
The Circle: “Representing different generations, social profiles, and
degrees of victimization”. – I never knew they were representing different
generations.
“Male domination of urban space does not augur an exhilarating
adventure, or even the illusion of independence, but a virtual prison.”
“Hindered at the outset by government objections to his script”.
“non-professional actors”.

8. +
 Ten: “Director was usually absent when the film was being
shot”.
“This was the most audacious, innovative and relevant
film at Cannes.”
“It’s less a closure than an admission that life goes on, for
the audience as well as for the characters. - relevant as I felt
this afterwards, but you forget that the characters are real.
“Fragments from several stories that throw light on each
other”.

9. +
What pieces of secondary
research are excellent/ why?
 For “The Circle”-“The background “noise” of women’s marginalized
condition in a world controlled by men”. – article: “No Way Out”,
publication: Film Comment, Author: Arthur Paul Volume: V37. No.2
Mar/Apr 2001,Pages: 22-25.- This quote is relevant as it sums up the whole of
the film as the women are always outside and something always feels
unnerving. This quote finally made me realise what it is and it sums up the film
superbly.
For “Ten”- “Acknowledges female sexual desire, gives voice to criticisms
of unjust divorce laws, and implies that many men (and the deeply macho
boy who serves as their representative) are hypocritical, fickle and
antiquated chauvinists.”- article: “Drive he said”, publication: Sight and
Sound, Author: Geoff Andrew, Volume: 12, No.10 October 2002, P ages:
30-32.- This quote refers to the woman’s de-veiling scene in the film, it
expresses what the director wanted to show Iranian men as. Also shows his
siding with women, it’s a reliable and helpful quote in showing diversity in
Iranian film opinions.

10. +
 For “Persepolis”- “It is the regime’s bureaucratic
stupidities that have most impact on the young narrator
and make for the most enjoyably absurd moments.”- review:
on persepolis, publication: Screen International, author:
Lee Marshall, No: 1598, 1 Jun 2007, page no: 5. – Picks key
factor in the film that it speaks of the war and revolution
humorously. Quite a reliable source unlike others it states her
undeniable way of making the light out of a very dark situation.
This quote makes the film seem less of a heavey burden to
viewers, it suggests it will make you laugh instead of depressed.

11. +
What pieces of secondary
research are not so good/
why?
 An extract from the book “Women, Islam and Cinema”, as there is
just not enough detail in the extract as I did not have enough time to
get all of the extract photocopied at the BFI. As it told me elements of
what I knew that women’s lack of appearance in Islamic cinema was
due to social and political issues.
A poem by Nazim Hikmet on Islamic women, I will research it as it
may have deeper connotations. But at first glance it is not too helpful
I shall also research him and find out his ethos.
An article entitled “Ten moments in Cannes”, as it is good for
secondary research finding out about other’s opinion on the film “Ten”,
but that’s about it.
Overall I have been very lucky with my findings in my secondary
research.

12. +
What primary research have
you done so far?
 The primary research I have done so far is a
questionnaire. I showed the whole class two clips and
asked them to fill out the questionnaires, after
watching them. I am still looking through all of their
answers. I did this on the film “The Circle”.
 I think I might do this again for my other two films.