NEWS

The Davidson Film Club is pleased to invite you to a discussion of Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness on Saturday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.

“Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness is a powerful film, striking at the heart of humanity through a jaded modern lens.” Ian Thomas Malone

Directed by Massoud Bakhshi
Iran (2019, 1h26)
In Persian with English subtitles

*The Davidson Film Club will remain virtual in March, but there are very encouraging signs, and we are looking forward to our return to the Armour Street Theatre in the near future!

Discussion of the film will be led by Zinat Hassanpour, a native of Iran and currently a professor at the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences in Concord.

• To join the discussion on Zoom, click on the link below:
• https://davidson.zoom.us/j/99084194942?pwd=VGFmZWdrTXNpclZiWURqVE9rZ0VRZz09
• Meeting ID: 990 8419 4942
• Passcode: 269005

There is no membership fee for this program, only, at most, the modest cost of the on-line film rental that yields no revenue to the Davidson Film Club.

Film Summary:

In Iran today (Tehran): 22-year-old Maryam accidentally kills her husband Nasser, 65 years old, and is sentenced to death. The only person who can save her is Mona, Nasser’s daughter. All Mona has to do is appear on a popular live TV show and forgive Maryam. But forgiveness proves difficult when they are forced to relive the past. What happens when entertainment meets judgement over life or death? This movie holds its grip on the viewer until the very last minute. Excellently written suspense, with a critical eye on the absurdness and at the same time blessing of a TV show at times threatening to get out of hand.

Winner Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020; Winner Best Screenplay (Bakhshi) and nominated for the Grand Prix at the Sofia International Film Festival; nominated for the Crystal Bear (Best Film) at the Berlin International Film Festival.

“Bakhshi craftily evokes the claustrophobic TV setting to deliver a biting criticism of class, muddled social justice, and the dehumanizing and numbing impact of TV culture.” Joseph Fahim, Middle East Eye

 “A riveting and thoroughly engrossing satire of Iranian culture and the work-arounds built into a theocracy, ways of ignoring calls for reform and the shedding of ‘tradition.’”Roger Moore, Movie Nation

 “It slowly builds its captivating and tense atmosphere, surprising us at every single turn and involving us in its complex moral dilemma.” Rene Sanchez, Cine Sin Fronteras

 “The film exposes the perverse family laws that affect women, independent of their economic status.” Gisela Savdie, El Heraldo.

“This riveting and superbly acted Iranian drama, based on a real variety show, poses a moral crucible born out of a theocratic system that disfavors women amid the heightened tension of the on-camera spectacle.” Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times

Our updated website at www.davidsonfilmclub.com features the whole current series (January-June 2022) and film descriptions. Have you Bookmarked it? 

We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization run by volunteers that only exists to bring you fine international fiction films and engage in stimulating discussion about them.

Hope to see many of you on Zoom on Saturday, March 26, for the discussion of this powerful, disturbing film!

Alan
Alan Singerman
President, Davidson Film Club
[email protected]
(704) 231-6736