THE PERSIAN VERSION

Co-presented with Bagche Farsi School, Boston PYPE, the Roxbury International Film Festival, the Boston Women’s Film Festival, the Boston Asian American Film Festival and Wicked Queer: the Boston LGBT Film Festival

Directed by Maryam Keshavarz, drama/comedy, English and Farsi with English subtitles, United States, 107 minutes, 2023

Coming from two countries at odds with each other, Iranian American Leila (Layla Mohammadi) strives to find balance and embrace her opposing cultures, while boldly challenging the labels society is so quick to project upon her. When her family reunites in New York City for her father’s heart transplant, Leila navigates her relationships at arm’s length in an effort to keep her “real” life separate from her family life. However, when her secret is unceremoniously revealed, so are the distinct parallels between her life and that of her mother Shireen (Niousha Noor). Punctuated by a bright color palette, snappy comedic relief, and vibrant dance numbers, The Persian Version delivers an honest portrayal of a woman who remains unapologetically herself, blended seamlessly into a heartfelt story about family, belonging, and the undeniable influence of pop music. Discussion with actor Niousha Noor to follow. GD, BIPOC, Q, I [CC, AD]