Online Film Home

Roozi khe zan shodam - The Day I Became a Woman (2000)

This is the story of women at three stages of life in Iran. The first part centers on a young girl on her ninth birthday who is told that she can no longer play with the boys she had been playing with only the day before because she is now a "woman".

Told from the perspective of a nine year old "woman" who does not feel like or know what that label refers to, we see how devastatingly this affects both the girl and the boy with whom she had been friends. The second part is about a young woman who decides to enter a bicycle race against her husband's wishes. As first the husband and then increasing numbers of men from the village ride beside her to convince her to return home, the race begins to symbolize a freedom she desperately wants from the limitations which have been placed on her.

Finally, the third part shows us an old woman who has come into some money and is now free to do what she wants. The way she chooses to use this freedom, however, makes one wonder just how free she is. (Summary written by Jonathan Beebe: jrbeebe@midway.uchicago.edu)

Marzieh Meshkini

Starring

Fatemeh Cherag Akhar .... Hava
Hassan Nebhan .... Hassan
Shahr Banou Sisizadeh .... Mother
Ameneh Passand .... Grandmother
Shabnam Toloui .... Ahoo
Sirous Kahvarinegad .... Husband
Mahram Zeinal Zadeh .... Osmann
Norieh Mahigiran .... Rival Cyclist
Azizeh Sedighi .... Hoora
Badr Iravani .... Young Boy

Directed by Marzieh Meshkini
Written by Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Studio Loews Shooting Gallery

Read about this film

Title: Roozi khe zan shodam - The Day I Became a Woman (2000)
Directed by: Marzieh Meshkini
Date of birth: 1969, Tehran, Iran
Writing credits: Mohsen Makhmalbaf & Marzieh Meshkini (dialogue)
Music by: Mohammad Reza Darvishi

Country: Iran
Language: Farsi
Color: Color
Runtime: 85 minutes

Search