The Persian Version

Som eneste jente i en familie med åtte brødre, er Leilas største utfordring forholdet til moren, Shirin. Familien flyktet fra Iran da sjahen falt, og bor nå i New York. Når faren skal gjennomgå en hjertetransplantasjon, samles de alle sammen. Så blir Leila uventet gravid etter en natt med en drag queen. Gamle hemmeligheter kommer for dagen, og tydelige paralleller til morens fortid avdekkes. Med en herlig fargepalett og skarp dialog har regissør Maryam Keshavarz skapt et nydelig portrett av en kvinne som bare ønsker å være seg selv og bli akseptert for det. 

Maryam Keshavarz (f. 1975) er en iransk-amerikansk filmskaper. Hennes første spillefilm Circumstance (2011) hadde sin premiere på Sundance Film Festival, der den vant publikumsprisen. Hennes andre spillefilm Viper Club (2018), med Susan Sarandon i hovedrollen, hadde premiere på filmfestivalen i Toronto. Hennes nyeste film, The Persian Version (2023), hadde premiere på Sundance, hvor den vant publikumsprisen.

In English

A screwball-comedy and family drama with a punch where Leila, a young Iranian-American woman in New York, grapples with the tug-of-war between two cultures, making desperate attempts to navigate the delicate balance between her conflicting identities.

Being the only girl in a family with eight brothers, Leila’s biggest challenge is her relationship with her mother, Shirin. The family fled from Iran when the Shah fell and now reside in New York. When her father’s heart transplant is scheduled, they all come together. Unexpectedly, Leila becomes pregnant after a night with a drag queen. Long-held secrets come to light, revealing clear parallels to her mother’s past. 

 With a delightful color palette and a sharp dialogue, director Maryam Keshavarz has crafted a beautiful portrayal of a woman who simply yearns to be accepted for who she is.

Maryam Keshavarz (b. 1975) is an Iranian-American filmmaker. Her first feature film, Circumstance (2011), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award. Her second feature film, Viper Club (2018), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and starred Susan Sarandon. Her latest film, The Persian Version (2023), premiered at Sundance, where it also won the Audience Award.