Summary

“Shayda” is a harrowing yet gentle exploration of an Iranian woman’s life after escaping an abusive husband in Australia. The film sensitively addresses the trauma of domestic abuse while showcasing love for Iranian culture. The performances and cinematography contribute to a powerful portrayal of Shayda’s emotional journey, offering both heart-wrenching and tender moments.

The directorial debut of Noora Niasari, Shayda is a harrowing but gentle exploration of an Iranian woman’s life after escaping an abusive husband in Australia. From the film’s opening scene to its final moments, Niasari exhibits empathy while sensitively handling a delicate topic. Shayda is sorrowful, distressing, and intense; the film, which was also written by Niasari, is equally full of love for Iranian culture as it is a story about trauma. Bolstered by an emotionally sensitive and heartbreaking performance by Holy Spider’s Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Shayda explores the unnerving, arduous journey of its title character with great care.

Set in 1995, the drama’s opening scene sees Shayda (Amir Ebrahimi) and six-year-old daughter Mona (Selina Zahednia) at the airport. They’re not taking a trip or fleeing Australia; rather, Mona is being taught what to do if she’s kidnapped by her father, Hossein (Osamah Sami), who is given visitation rights to see Mona each Saturday. Shortly after, we learn that Shayda and Mona are staying in a women’s shelter following Shayda’s escape from her domestically abusive husband. Joyce (Leah Purcell), the woman who runs the shelter, is helping her build a case for her divorce and custody trial. Set during Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, Shayda follows the eponymous character through fearful outings and loving, joyful moments as she attempts to build a new life for herself and Mona.

Zar Amir Ebrahimi in Shayda

Shayda is specific in its story and cultural beats, but it also showcases the ways in which domestic abuse affects women from around the world. Shayda is surrounded by women from various backgrounds while living at the women’s shelter, each of whom is working through their own domestic trauma. For Shayda, it takes all of her will power to move forward, and she’s often paralyzed by fear and paranoia. It’s difficult to hide from the local Iranian community, some of whom ostracize her because they see her divorce as more offensive than anything she’s going through. Shayda’s resolve is strong, but the film explores the difficulties she faces at every turn, thoughtfully and tenderly showcasing the range of emotion amidst the turmoil.

Strength doesn’t make things easy, however, and Niasari gives Shayda the space to be sad, scared, and joyful in equal measure. Amir Ebrahimi brilliantly and sensitively captures Shayda’s every feeling. Her eyes dart every which way while in public spaces, and her tremors and breathing reveal the tension she carries in her body. Crucially, Amir Ebrahimi’s expressive eyes tell us everything about Shayda at any given moment, and the depth is found in between her performance and Niasari’s gorgeous, moving script. Osamah Sami as Hossein is great in a supporting role. The actor portrays Hossein with manipulation and barely there patience that could erupt to anger at any given moment. It’s a quietly restrained performance that builds tension over the course of the film.

Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Selina Zahednia in Shayda

Sherwin Akbarzadeh’s cinematography offers close-ups of Shayda and Mona, and the camera work gives the film a claustrophobic, oppressive feel that never lets up. It’s a reflection of Shayda’s situation, bringing us up close and personal with all that’s going on while heightening the sense of loneliness and despair Amir Ebrahimi displays. Niasari isn’t all about the harrowing aspects of Shayda’s life, though, and the writer-director makes sure to infuse the film with light moments filled with love and appreciation for Iranian traditions that Shayda instills in Mona. These scenes are underscored by the trauma Shayda is forced to relive and work through, but it makes the gentle scenes all the more special and heartening.

Shayda is trying to make the best of a devastating, awful situation to give her daughter a better life. Luckily, we’re not subjected to any extreme violence against Shayda, either by way of flashbacks (as is the tendency) or in the present. Shayda reliving her trauma through words is enough to capture the extent of pain and violence without having to see it play out. Niasari carefully and assuredly handles an intense and emotional story with ease and vulnerability. With her work on Shayda, Niasari is a filmmaker whose work we should keep an eye out for.

Shayda screened at the 2023 Middleburg Film Festival, and will release in limited theaters on December 1. The film is 117 minutes long and rated PG-13 for thematic material involving domestic abuse, some violence and language.