african violet – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

MOVIE OF THE WEEK August 21, 2020: AFRICAN VIOLET

August 16, 2020August 23, 2020 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments african violet, betsy bozdech, Cate Marquis, Fatemah Motamed-Aria, iranian films, jennifer merin, kathia woods, leslie combemale, loren king, maryann johnson, Mona Zandi Haqiqi, motw, Movie of the Week, nell minow, Pam Grady, Reza Babak, sandie angulo chen, susan wloszczyna

Both poignant and insightful, Mona Zandi Haqiqi’s African Violet is a slice-of-life drama set in a working class neighborhood in Tehran. With strong, naturalistic performances and a vivid sense of place, Haqiqi’s film draws you into its characters’ lives, sharing their triumphs and challenges and creating understanding and building strong feelings of empathy.

Reviews

AFRICAN VIOLET – Review by Jennifer Merin

August 11, 2020August 16, 2020 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments african violet, Fatemah Motamed-Aria, iranian films, Mona Zandi Haqiqi, motw, Movie of the Week, Reza Babak, Saeed Aghakhani

African Violet, a winsome femme-helmed domestic drama Iran that reveals an intimate view of family life from a woman’s perspective. Exquisitely envisioned to convey complex relationships with subtle looks rather than words, the film’s fundamental kindness is revelatory and utterly compelling.

Reviews

AFRICAN VIOLET – Review by Susan Wloszczyna

August 11, 2020August 16, 2020 Susan Wloszczyna 0 Comments african violet, Fatemah Motamed-Aria, iranian films, Mona Zandi Haqiqi, motw, Movie of the Week, Reza Babak

The Iranian domestic drama African Violet, directed and co-written Mona Zandi Haghighi, is an elevated soap opera of sorts that revolves around an unusual three-way relationship. At its center is Shokoo (Fatemeh Motamed-Aria), a strong-featured yet still attractive middle-aged woman who is happily wed for a second time to the virile Reza (Saeed Aghakhani).