Circumstance

According to Dictionary.com, circumstance is a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action, an event or fact that causes or helps to cause something to happen, typically something undesirable. What happens when you are born or placed in a particular situation that you view as undesirable. What would you do if you longed for freedom and individuality, but were forced to hide your passion, love, and true character, behind an exterior of innocence and obedience. How would you react?

The 2011 film Circumstance, directed by Persian-American Maryam Keshavarz, is a story of two young Tehranian women struggling against the social norms forced upon them by Iranian culture. This film follows these young women as they love and live within the constraints placed upon them. One of the lead women comes from a very wealthy family and this wealth allows her the opportunity to participate in underground parties and experiment with "party drugs" while her counterpart is orphaned and cannot  buy her freedom as easy. "What you see in Circumstance is the calm before the store. You see the kind of feelings that were swirling around and how tired people were. What you don't realize is that 75% of Iran's population is under the age of 35. Many feel they have no future. It's like a ticking time bomb." -Nikohl Boosheri, lead actress in Circumstance.

What is so fascinating about this film are the relationships and adventures between the two lead women and the exterior masks they wear to cover their true desires. It is interesting to see this culture illustrated within the many rules and roles women in Iran are forced to live by with the submission to their fathers and husbands. This film is set in modern Iran prior to the revolution and the wealthy family of this film is more liberal than their Iranian culture which places a burden on the patriarch and how he treats his family.

Circumstance has subtitles, but if you enjoy a good story and dynamic characters you will forget all about the subtitles and be completely enriched by the film. Here is a trailer and then go rent this movie and enjoy!

--Krystal