Sepideh (2013)

Please don't spend money on this.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

For those who have watched another movie called "A Separation", I must say this movie instilled similar feelings - that one is very fortunate to be born in a free society with such little (or no) restraints on women and their personal and career development. It is most moving to follow the footsteps of a girl who began as a stargazer to a serious amateur astronomer hoping to further her development in the profession. She was faced with numerous obstacles - very aptly presented in the documentary by the various characters (who are in fact important persons in Sepideh's life). As a young Iranian girl, she is subject to customs and cultural expectations which inadvertently clashed with her nocturnal observation activity. The conversation between the chief protagonist and her maternal uncle who obviously did have Sepideh's welfare in mind despite his views and disapproval was most moving. So was the poetry quoted by Sepideh when she related the pains of being the little understood. A very practical concern is the financial strain of her family which jeopardizes the chance of her attending university. The audience rejoiced with Sepideh when the apparent solution was in sight, and their hearts fell just as she did when her efforts did not come to fruition. It was a slightly tense moment when Sepideh's mentor Mr. Kabiri revealed his disappointment in her choices and that he had expected more of her (though it beats me why he would think the unfinished observatory would get a greater chance of completion should Sepideh follow his footsteps rather than her returning home as a professional in future to promote astronomy). All in all, an inspiring portrayal of a girl who battles suppression and repression to realize her dreams - and there is little excuse for those of us enjoying more freedom not to strive towards our goals.

I saw this at the Sundance Film Festival and was extremely impressed by it. The documentary maker manages to address the issues facing women in Iran without being disrespectful to the culture or dehumanizing it. In the film we see a portrait of a young woman who wants nothing more than to be an astronaut. Though she encounters obstacles on the way there, Sepideh's spirit is ever enduring. I feel like there aren't enough documentaries like these made in today's society, and that everyone really needs to start paying more attention to them. It's simply reality that in some countries it's harder to achieve a specific career, like an astronaut, and that some cultural identities can make it more difficult to accomplish your goals. Sepideh shows us that it's possible to overcome both geographical and sociological obstacles to accomplish dreams.