Review of Circumstance (2011) by Maksim B — 14 Apr 2012

Thought-provoking, emotional and controversial, Circumstance is a bold love story set in an impossible social and political environment. With sensual performances, this movies delves deep into the into the issues of sexual liberation, personal freedom, social and religious oppression in a manner that would challenge every free-thinking human being.

Set in a modern Tehran in a time when the young Iranian generation has found its ways to challenge the religious, social and political oppression of a ruthless and ultra conservative regime, the story of two young women in love with each other is a convincing and captivating story that brings a fine blend of sexual tension, love emotions and a call for a personal and social liberation. Director Maryam Keshavarz depicts the Iranian social and cultural life in all its complexity in such a manner that even those who have been multiple times to Iran would be pleased to discover new dimensions of the Iranian social and cultural life.

As somebody who has been regularly visiting Iran, I must confess that Keshavarz has taken an extremely powerful approach on challenging the system and the regime. In Iran the people never speak openly against the system and the regime, but one could find countless signs of people's own way to oppose this personal, social and religious oppression. In the small daily activities, or at their homes, they have found a way to zig-zag the insanity of the regime. What truly strikes in Circumstance is that Maryam Keshavarz has absolutely succeeded to depict this in her movie ! There is nothing openly political, there are not pathetic social or political messages - the movie remains a sensual love story throughout its whole 110 minutes. And just like in the reality there, Keshavarz sends extremely powerful messages by the small details, by the examination of the gay love between the two young women.

To many Circumstance may seem a bit melodramatic or others may criticize it that it is not an example of the real Persian cinematography tradition, but it should be taken into consideration that its topic and its message would never get the chance to be filmed or to be shown in Iran.

Circumstance is a captivating movie, that is surely worth-seeing!