Circumstance

Circumstance is a beautiful movie about a love in a society that would not allow it under any, well circumstances. Written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz, helming her first full length feature film, Circumstance is a good film though disjointed at times. It may lose you at some points as you try to figure what's going on and where the characters are in the story. You'll feel disconnected from the story but not the performances which hold this movie together in amazing ways.

The first thing you'll notice is the unbelievable beauty of the co-leading actresses Nikohl Boosheri who plays Atafeh and Sarah Kazemy who plays Shireen. Then you would not believe this is the first time either of them has ever done any acting. They seemed so at ease in front of the camera, especially with some of the scenes these young ladies were asked to pull off. For that you have to credit the director and Maryam apparently created a very comfortable set. The ladies are joined by Reza Sixo Safai who plays Mehran, the brother of Shireen who comes home fresh off a stint from rehab.

Atafeh and Shireen are schoolmates, best friends, and without a doubt are in love with each other in a world where that is so not allowed. They could be killed for how they feel about each other and there are times during the movie where you fear for the young ladies lives. While they play with fire, Mehran is coming to grips of his spirituality at his local Mosque. It is there where he finds a spiritual guide and it couldn't have been a more detrimental move to the friendship of Atafeh and Shireen's friendship.

In a society where the men have ALL the power and what they command must be obeyed the woman live in constant fear but it's not just them. The youth are also constantly watched and spied upon by the "Morality Police" and it's that division of the police force that arrests the girls who have left one of the many underground parties that seemingly happen all over Iran. It's this moment plus Mehran taking full advantage of this opportunity that takes the final act of this movie into the realm of heartbreak. It also forces one young lady to make a decision about her future and where she should live her life.

The music by Gingger Shankar, while no newcomer to being involved with movie scores herself is forgettable. That could be due however to the love story unfolding in front of you. That being said, there are other moments during the film where a really good score could have made a powerful impact. The ball was dropped on that front sadly. There wasn't much to see as far as scenery goes either but that's not why you choose this movie to see. You choose this movie to move you, to open your eyes, to make you realize just how good you have it, to realize just how lucky you are. We are all lucky that Maryam Keshavarz got the chance to make her film. I for one recommend it highly and I'll see you at the theater.