My Tehran for sale – Review

GRANAZ MOUSSAVI is an Iranian/Australian, a celebrated poet in her country of birth, whose film MY TEHRAN FOR SALE was shot underground in Tehran for good reason because it focuses on the lives of young people in artistic circles whose activities fly in the face of the authorities.

The central character is Marzieh – Marzieh Vafamehr – an actress who is isolated from her family who is working, behind closed doors on a politically sensitive performance piece. Through her friend Sadaf – ASHA MEHRABI – she meets Saman – AMIR CHEGINI, an Iranian/Australian who’s come to Tehran to make money so he can clear his debts back home.

But all does not end well in that relationship and Marzieh is forced to reassess her life.

This is such an informative film, giving insight into contemporary life in Tehran and the frustrations and anguish that young people face in their  quest for cultural and personal freedom. Granaz Moussavi’s poetic background gives texture to the film, the shots she’s chosen give a beautiful layered access to this city that she obviously loves and her cinematographer Bonnie Elliot has served her well, with much of the camera work handheld.

The performances are very strong, with MARZIEH VAFAMEHR’S haunted face symbolizing the despair for expression so many artists must feel in Iran. AMIR CHEGINI, a non-professional actor, is also splendid in a fairly unsympathetic role, ASHA MEHRABI is just lovely.

But what stays with you in the end, is the connection to this place, Tehran, to its language, its culture, its people. This film is really an ode to a city under cultural siege.

An interesting comment from IMDB :

I am a young Iranian film lover living in Tehran and I found this film amazing because it has dared to breakaway to move away from the norms of Iranian movies and sneaked into the reality of the lives of many forced underground and wasted in drugs and other traps. Dark side of the moon has finally found its ways in an Iranain film.

The film does not hide the dirty laundry and does not sweep the dust under the carpet so some can feel comfortably numb and rest assured that all is fine. Kids in Tehran are not fine and this is what this film is about. I love this film because it has dared to reveal the reality of the lives of ‘bad’ boys and girls in Iran. The lives of real people who are not necessarily ‘innocent’ are missing in most Iranian films. Usually Iranian films are set in villages, about children, or innocent but economically deprived people. The characters in this film are not heroes or saints. They are real people made of blood and flesh but stuck in a chaotic and sick environment. In particular, I admire the contemporary structure of this film in telling its multiple layers of stories and side stories in a non-linear way. Cinematography and acting are also notable. The cinematography portrays the chaos of public life of people and uprooted underground world where many young people spend best years of their lives. This is an edgy, daring, and revolutionary film in its form and narrative. Music is well employed through out the film too. Marzieh’s acting is one the best in recent years. she delivers her role passionately and makes the character look very believable. The film confuses documentary and fiction in many scenes and I personally love this technique reflecting the reality of life in Tehran today. I definitely recommend it to all.