Facing Mirrors

(Negar Azarbayjani, Iran/Germany, in Farsi with English subtitles, 102min., 2011)
The first narrative film from Iran to feature a transgender main character and a story of an unexpected friendship, one that defies class, oppressive social norms and religious beliefs. In her first feature, filmmaker Negar Azarbayjani pairs two unlikely allies. Edi, breezily rebellious as only the wealthy can be, is nevertheless desperately awaiting her passport: She needs to leave her oppressive father, who rejects her trans identity and is determined to marry her off. Rana is an otherwise traditional wife and mother, who, forced to defy convention, drives a cab to pay off her imprisoned husband’s debts. By chance she picks up Edi, in flight, and the two, as in the best buddy films and road movies, negotiate conflicting and rigid attitudes and arrive at unanticipated understandings. As does the film: The gripping Facing Mirrors is impressively idiosyncratic in its adherence to genre, always compelling in its sympathies, and edifyingly revealing as a portrait of the people of Tehran.
Winner: Jury Award, Best Film 2011, Montreal World Film Festival / Jury Award, Best First Feature, San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
Campus Partners: UWM LGBT Studies Certificate Program, UWM Center for International Education
Community Co-Presenters: FORGE, PFLAG-Milwaukee
Learn more:  http://www4.uwm.edu/psoa/film/lgbtfilmfestival/
 
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Following the film, a talk-back/discussion (along with pie! — or other food) will take place at Baker’s Square on Capitol Drive (1305 East Capitol Drive, Shorewood, WI)