Son-Mother

Son-Mother tells the story of Leila, a widow and mother of two. The hard-pressed woman is facing a difficult decision: Will she accept Kazem’s proposal? If so, it may have fatal consequences for the small family.

Halfway through the film, it tells the story from the son Amir’s perspective. Like Zain in Nadine Labaki’s Capernaum, the child who sues his parents for giving birth to him, Amir is portrayed with great sensitivity. It is rare for young actors to be able to radiate anger, sadness and fear without exaggerating.

Son-Mother paints a picture of hopelessness and despair. Reminiscent of the Dardenne brother’s social dramas, the movie includes a stubborn boss, bleak factories and children left to themselves.

Elias Bakken Johansen

Director

Mahnaz Mohammadi (b. 1975) is an Iranian director and activist. She is especially known for her documentaries, which portrays social inequality in Iran. When Travelogue – a documentary in which several Iranians tell her why they left their homeland – was screened during an event in Paris in 2010, Iranian authorities decided to ban Mohammadi from leaving the country. Son-Mother is her first feature film.