In 2007, Seven Winters in Tehran follows a 19-year-old woman who meets with a man that she believes will give her a business opportunity. When she goes in for the meeting, the man attempts to rape her and she stabs him in self-defence. Later, she is arrested and her trial becomes an example of gender politics as she is tried for murder and sentenced to death. This documentary breaks down the process and injustices the government undertook to make an example out of Reyhaneh Jabbari, including footage that they had to smuggle out of Iran. Reyhaneh became a heroic yet tragic example of how women are oppressed and muted in Iran.
The film’s subject matter is harrowing. It’s often difficult to hear the testimonies and voiceovers of Reyhaneh’s letters. The gross injustice and inhumanity of the whole ordeal is surely going to properly provoke reactions. Tehran relies heavily on verbal storytelling rather than visuals because filmmakers were unable to secure permission to film even in their own homes during this time for fear of authorities. Still, much of the film is tense from the images. We understand as an audience how much risk they’re taking to shoot these low-res phone clips under the guise of a prison visit. At the same time, the more high quality footage also sees quite a risk being taken to just get B-Roll of the city and places where this event took place.
There is a underlying pain and horror to the recreation scenes as it seems throughout most of the film that nothing is happening, even the family had to continue their daily routines to survive. The lack of recognition of her attempt to save her life is heartbreaking and nightmarish, as an event that actually took place. The way the newspaper makes her face look like a serial killer and the attempts to uncover any semblance of truth even as these political fabrications used for the oppression of women and their rights becomes more and more apparent. Even so, she had the bravery to call out those who coecered her confession out of her. As a result, it’s a sad sight to see her attempts to appeal to the humanity and logic of the judge, only to be shut down by their misogynistic agenda.
The content of the film is the main aspect so, if you like to watch the film without knowing all the details, I’d suggest you simply watch the film. It uses the same methods, editing style, recreation and B-roll as any other documentary but its power is in its brutal honesty and the terrifying portrait of a country that will torture their people in order to keep the status quo.
Seven Winters in Tehran is available on VOD now.
