Iran: Zinat

I think the film is a convincing glimpse into Iranian village life. I enjoyed it because it was without fanfare, perfect actresses, rock star looking male counterparts, unrealistic sets, and overdone costumes. The film felt authentic and sincere. I was shocked to later discover it ran about 2 hours. I was completely invested in this quiet little film. The subtitles weren’t translated into English very well, but good enough to convey the story.

The film shows us that Iran is a male-dominated society. Fathers and husbands decide the fate of women in the family unit. Men work outside the home and are free to move about the city.  Their needs come before the needs of women. Women seem to be mostly confined to domestic spheres.

The life experiences of women are confined to growing up within a male-dominated childhood home only to marry into and live in another male-dominated home. Marrying, having children and housekeeping is the scope and limit of opportunities for women. They have no input into their outcomes. Their opinion may or may not be factored into decision making. A woman’s identity is her father’s then later her husband’s. To behave in a contrary way is a show of disloyalty and disobedience. On many levels, women are treated like children.

What perplexed me was the wedding scene: how can an Iranian marriage be cause for women to celebrate? Getting married means a lifetime of servitude and subservience. We also observe that Zinat should be relieved and comforted by the presence of a suitor and possible future husband (she’s not). But that was life for Iranian women after the revolution.

The film does not convey what kinds of sweeping political, ideological, or religious changes are underway. Zinat is a film that focuses on changes at the individual/personal/family level—though it highlights a much larger issue. Basically, an Iranian husband learns that his wife’s worth far exceeds the conventional roles of servant and brood mare. Obviously, the film’s ending  is a both a lesson and a warning to Iranian audiences that social change—to wit, women’s rights, are valid and their ontributions valuable.