Shayda, 2023.
Written and Directed by Noora Niasari.
Starring Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen, Mojean Aria, Selina Zahednia, Rina Mousavi, Lucinda Armstrong Hall, Bev Killick, Eve Morey, Jillian Nguyen, Jerome Meyer, Rina Mousavi, Hannah Moore, Nicole Gulasekharam, Luka Sero, Catherine Glavicic, and Shayan Askari.
SYNOPSIS:
A young Iranian mother and her six-year-old daughter find refuge in an Australian women’s shelter during the two weeks of the Iranian New Year (Nowruz).
Written, directed, and inspired by the life of Iranian filmmaker Noora Niasari, Shayda opens with a mother nervously explaining what her daughter should do if they see her abusive husband following them. Above all else, she is trying to instill bravery into her daughter. Fortunately, they have found themselves an Australian shelter to temporarily live in, doing whatever is possible to re-create some sense of normalcy and joy for her and her child.
The mother is the eponymous Shayda (an emotionally raw performance from Zar Amir Ebrahimi, also seen in last year’s underseen harrowing Iranian serial killer thriller Holy Spider), and as one can imagine, the horror she is fleeing is bruising listening about as she, through tears, details moments of violent and sexual abuse that sadly feel routine in their broken marriage.)
Zar Amir Ebrahimi delivers an unquestionably powerful turn filled with nuance as Shayda is filled with the pain that, even after all this, her husband is allowed visitation rights. She is trying to hold it together while doing whatever she can to comfort her daughter in this home full of strangers, some of whom are respectable and easy to get along with, and others who are rude and obnoxious. For as dedicated as she is to looking after her daughter, personal fulfillment is also important, as some of the other women slowly encourage her to be more outgoing and social, at least once in a while, and that her daughter will be fine at the shelter. Unsurprisingly, she also comes across a man she clicks with and might have found a chance at something real.
That aspect is engaging and tenderly written, encapsulating aspects of Iranian culture, including the upcoming new year. It’s also a bit unsurprising and formulaic, even if the acting is rich and moving. What really elevates Shayda into a powerful piece of work is that, meanwhile, daughter. Mona (Selina Zahednia) is occasionally forced to hang out with her father (Osamah Sami doesn’t make one false move playing the narcissist), visibly uncomfortable but eliciting a glimmer of hope that maybe, he will let go of the ongoing drama to be present with her and enthusiastically do things like take her to see the freshly released original The Lion King. Instead, he pretends he will do those things with her, using that time to attempt to manipulate her into getting him on her side or tell him if Mom has any new friends.
Naturally, that hope fades away as Mona increasingly becomes averse to these hangout sessions with her father. It’s a heartbreakingly complex performance on par with the outstanding work Zar Amir Ebrahimi gives. As a narrative, Shayda continues on its familiar path when focusing more on the diverse group of people and their problems, all interacting with one another and trying to find peace in this shelter is typically more compelling. It’s a refreshing dynamic, whereas watching a parent learn to find time for herself amid tumultuous conditions while even meeting a love interest is well-trodden ground. Thankfully, regardless of what’s happening on screen, there is a trifecta of incredible performances keeping this film tense and overflowing with emotion.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
