SYNOPSIS
The Hidden half is a film about a woman¡¯s reflection on her memories and experiences of the war in 1979, just after the Iranian revolution of the 1970s. Fereshteh was a university student who once supported communist activism during the turbulent years. She has lived as the wife of a senior judge, Khosro, and mother of their two children, hiding her past as a communist supporter in the present Islamic Iran. Khosro is commissioned to investigate the case of a female political prisoner held on death row in Shiraz. Although the woman claims to be innocent, no one will hear her appeal. His wife gives him a long letter and diary for him to read on his trip, detailing her past as a political activist in the hope that he will come to a greater understanding of the complicated politics of Iran today, and thus help the woman¡¯s case.
The film proceeds as a long flashback as he reads Fereshteh¡¯s diary. He learns about her past passions and ideals and finally understands her. Facing the political prisoner, Khosro opens his mind, listens to her carefully and tries to understand her with his whole heart. This film was released in Iran, but shut down after a month, and only passed the censors 7 years later. Milani made this film to help people remember what happened in the early days of the revolution. Milani was imprisoned for a while for her stance against Islamic ideology and law in The Hidden Half. (Kim Sun-ah)
PROGRAM NOTE
The Hidden half is a film about a woman¡¯s reflection on her memories and experiences of the war in 1979, just after the Iranian revolution of the 1970s. Fereshteh was a university student who once supported communist activism during the turbulent years. She has lived as the wife of a senior judge, Khosro, and mother of their two children, hiding her past as a communist supporter in the present Islamic Iran. Khosro is commissioned to investigate the case of a female political prisoner held on death row in Shiraz. Although the woman claims to be innocent, no one will hear her appeal. His wife gives him a long letter and diary for him to read on his trip, detailing her past as a political activist in the hope that he will come to a greater understanding of the complicated politics of Iran today, and thus help the woman¡¯s case.
The film proceeds as a long flashback as he reads Fereshteh¡¯s diary. He learns about her past passions and ideals and finally understands her. Facing the political prisoner, Khosro opens his mind, listens to her carefully and tries to understand her with his whole heart. This film was released in Iran, but shut down after a month, and only passed the censors 7 years later. Milani made this film to help people remember what happened in the early days of the revolution. Milani was imprisoned for a while for her stance against Islamic ideology and law in The Hidden Half. (Kim Sun-ah)