In the Bazaar of Sexes
A documentary film by Sudabeh Mortezai I
Synopsis: A lonesome middle-aged bachelor, a divorced single mother, and a jovial young mullah are the protagonists of this intimate account of gender relations in Iran. Their stories revolve around the institution of temporary marriage, also called lust-marriage, a Shia practice that allows a man and a woman to legally marry for a fixed period of time ranging from one hour to 99 years. Religiously sanctified prostitution or a loophole for couples to have a relationship within the rigid Islamic laws? Religious dogma meets macho sentimentality meets female realities. A relentlessly honest, eye-opening, and sometimes funny account of Islamic sexual and gender politics.