Cutting Through Rocks

Bluesky

Not all heroes wear capes and, in the case of divorcee Sara Shahverdi, homemade motorcycle gear is the outfit of choice. The former midwife lives in rural Iran, where in addition to delivering many of the community’s children, she’s also fostering a quiet rebellion against the patriarchy. Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni follow Sara over seven years as she sets her sights, among other things, on becoming the first female councillor from her village and beyond.

Revolution begins at home for Sara, whose own father flouted the received cultural rules after having a number of daughters, teaching her the skills he would normally have reserved for the sons that did follow some time later. Although he died when she was 16, her feminism kept burning brightly and her pivotal position within her own family is indicated early on after her younger brothers hatch a plot to disinherit her sisters. The brothers reap the whirlwind as she tears up the contract.

While Sara encounters some animosity as she runs for office – “I doubt your ability to accomplish anything,” one man tells her – many in the community, especially the young, respect her voice. We also see her on the campaign trail, trying to coax a hall full of women to consider their rights. The idea of her as a lone voice is emphasised by striking cinematography, often of her riding her bike across the landscape, which has the wide-open quality of a western.

Winning is just a small part of Sara’s bigger picture fight, as she views each victory as the stepping stone to the next, even though she faces opposition from men every inch of the way. Beyond the various challenges within her community, she also visits schools, encouraging the girls there to fight for their rights and, if possible, avoid child marriage. She also becomes personally involved with teenager Feresteh, who is granted permission to live with Sara as she seeks a divorce from her husband, even as her family is already considering remarriage. As Sara cuts through those metaphorical rocks, the level of those that start to take notice increases – it’s one thing to take on your brothers but it’s not long before she has the state breathing down her neck.

Khaki and Eyni don’t make light of the risks Sara is taking but they also indicate a rich vein of hope that her courage is slowly but surely chiselling its way to.

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