Off cinema has always been about making films out of the need to tell a story. It is experimental, crazy cinema and that isn't afraid to take on unpopular topics. "Elaha" is a film that can be classified as a "sad film with a depressing ending". And I'm not writing this, to ridicule this film. I understand that this was the director's vision. She wanted to tell us the sad story of a young woman who has to struggle with the role assigned to her by a conservative family, which more and more often makes her reflect "what for?".
The problem is that I have seen this story several times on the occasion of other independent films dealing with the fight against patriarchy. This film is neither outstanding in any aspect, it doesn't touch on any new topic, it doesn't add anything new to the already existing picture and it is nothing outstanding compared to the rest. Apart from the wonderful Bayan Layla, who plays the main character, this film is absolutely average.
The critics, as usual, *hit themselves with delight again, because they got "an outstanding film for an intelligent viewer". Unfortunately for them, the fact is that this story is boring. Let's not fool ourselves - if someone has seen a few films about the clash between patriarchy and the desire to develop young women, this film will be nothing new to them.
Most of the film is filled with unnecessary scenes of ironing, smoking cigarettes or taking care of his brother. Seriously, two scenes would be enough to show us that the main character cares about her family, and at the same time doesn't want to give in to the restrictions imposed on her by her conservative family. If you cut out all these unnecessary scenes to convey the story, this film would be considered a short film.
Admittedly, even as a short film, it would still be derivative, but at least it wouldn't force you to watch so many ironing scenes.
If this film will be the first film about the struggle of young women for their freedom and the possibility of self-determination in the face of the limitations of religion and tradition, then this film may move you. Otherwise, it will be another same story about the same thing, which ends in the same way as other films in the "sad film with a sad ending" genre.
