Three words sum up « Seven Days », a poignant and enthralling film: dilemma, humanism, and suspense.
The dilemma presented is one of the most heart-wrenching imaginable: Maryam, an Iranian human rights and women's rights activist, released from prison for a week, must choose: return to prison at the end of her sick leave and continue her fight from within, or opt for exile and join her husband, her young son, and her teenage daughter in Hamburg, where she would be able to live a normal family life, while continuing to act from abroad.
The suspense begins as soon as Maryam accepts the offer to reunite with her family across the Iranian border: the unknown and danger loom large on the difficult and frightening road to freedom, with nighttime travel compounded by the discomfort of a snowy and stormy winter. And just when the heroine seems to be out of jeopardy, new twists and turns arise, and another race against time begins.
Well crafted and based on Maryam's almost incessant movement, the action nothing short of breathtaking. Which makes the humanist message very easy to digest. Hailing the activists who sacrifice their freedom and and times to defend democracy, it comes as no surprise that the screenplay was written by Mohammad Rasoulof, the well-known director of "The Wild Fig Tree"). He also analyzes very well family relationships, particularly in the case of Maryam's teenage daughter (played with great sensitivity by the young Tanaz Molaei) who rebels against her absent mother.
Director Ali Samadi Ahadi rises to the challenge of the screenplay. He knows how to create an atmosphere : the big city, the desolate landscapes, the night, the snow, the cold, and the rugged mountains convey the heroine's desperation. His direction of the actors is also impeccable: Vishka Asayeh, as determined as she is tortured, dominates a consistent cast, always convincing.
A deeply humanistic film, highly elevated, captivating from start to finish, and an absolute must-see.
