I feel extremely privileged for having watched this film at the premiere at IDFA.
I haven't stopped thinking about it ever since. It has so many beautiful layers, and it's so emotionally rich. I may dare to say that I have not seen such a brave documentary for a long time. The only images of Iran that were given to the European audience were completely stereotyped and depicted a black and white world, just like the recent documentary that won an award at IDFA, " Radiography of a Family".
But Silent House, as I said, showed the layered images of Iran. An upper-middle-class family that we rarely see. Three generations of an Iranian family inside a hundred-year-old house, from a rich and wealthy grandmother to a grandfather who was ambitious and wanted to pin himself on history to a mother who was a hardworking and revolutionary woman who wanted to change her country. Two uncles, one affected by immigration and the other by war. And two young and talented filmmakers who grew up in this family and are also siblings. Their only weapon to endure the hardships their family has suffered is to record. Recording their good and bad days and their personality changes.
This film is in praise of filming. It is in praise of the lives of Iranian people. People who have been oppressed for years but live honorably. For months now, the sound of their "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement has reached the ears of the world. However, this film was made before these recent movement in Iran, but it can be clearly seen why Iranian women started such a progressive movement, because they are very powerful. And Silent House portrays inspiring, brave women.
I was also very touched by the wonderful speeches the directors gave afterwards in the video they sent since they were under travel ban!
I totally recommend this film to all documentary lovers. Thanks to these young filmmakers from Iran for giving birth to this meaningful work, and for allowing us a look inside of their beautiful family and historical house.
