3 Faces

PAST FILM SCREENING

May 1 – 2PM + 7:30PM

Iran, 2018 – Rated: TBA – 100 minutes
Persian with English subtitles
Directed by Se Rokh and Jafar Panahi
Cast: Jafar Panahi, Behnaz Jafari, Marziyeh Rezaie

Once again defying a filmmaking ban set by his home nation of Iran, Jafar Panahi (Taxi) directs and stars in 3 Faces, a thoughtful exploration of three Iranian women at different points in their acting careers.

Marziyeh Rezaie (appearing as herself ) is an aspiring actor whose parents have refused to let her attend a prestigious acting conservatory in Tehran, where she has recently been accepted. After famous actor Behnaz Jafari (also appearing as herself ) receives a video from Rezaie pleading for help, Jafari and Panahi set off on a road trip to a small village in Tehran to look for her. On their journey together, the two learn about Shahrazade, a former dancer and actor who, after experiencing years of harsh treatment by film directors, has taken to living as a recluse and encouraging young girls to seek independence.

As in his previous films, Panahi creates an undercurrent of dark humour as he approaches difficult and sometimes harsh realities from a humanistic perspective. Throughout the film, the central theme of challenging traditional gender roles — especially those involving female independence — is at the forefront of the journey of each of the three subjects. Despite their differences in age, circumstance, and aspirations, the women we encounter in 3 Faces hold a common ground in their determination to be heard and their resourcefulness in fighting for their own liberation.

“3 Faces may be modest and low-key on the surface, but its surprises are worth preserving, its insights casually profound.”

—Justin Chang,
Los Angeles Times