Born in Evin

Born in Evin is a gripping and intensely personal documentary film released in 2019. Maryam Zaree, an accomplished actress and filmmaker, takes the helm as the director of this eye-opening, heartrending tour de force. Zaree herself is the primary focus of the documentary, as she sets out to unravel the mystery of her own birth and early childhood, spent in Evin, a notorious political prison in Iran during the 1980s.

Coming from the German-Iranian lineage, Zaree delves into the complexities of her past, unpicking the historic, cultural, and political threads that weave together to form her identity. Born in Evin does not shy away from the grim reality and horrors that lie beneath the fabric of society stateside. Instead, it confronts them directly, offering up a powerful commentary on Iran's political climate and history.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, and Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, do not appear as characters in the film but remain omnipresent through archival footage and photographs, setting the stage for this period and adding depth to the story.

Zaree's quest stirs up striking revelations about her mother's harrowing experiences in Evin prison. It was in these harsh confines that her mother brought her into the world, a place meant to house political prisoners— a setting far removed from the delicate, nurturing environments typically associated with childbirth. The film artfully explores the stark contrast between motherhood and state violence, wading through the murky waters of trauma, resilience, and remembrance.

The film balances the poignant emotional journey and personal narrative with a larger societal context, shining a light on the broader implications of Iran's political unrest. Born in Evin deftly incorporates the political backdrop of the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath to add another layer of understanding to Zaree's story.

Despite its fraught subject matter, the film doesn't rely solely on solemnity: it also includes heartwarming moments that capture the universality of familial love and connection. This, in turn, functions as a testament to human resilience and our ability to derive hope and love even in the most severe of circumstances.

Yet the film doesn't show us only the repercussions on Zaree's family. It makes it clear that her story is one of many, lending a voice to the countless families affected by political turbulence and oppressive regimes throughout Iran's history.

Born in Evin's strength lies in its direct confrontation with the past, a quest for truth that unravels through Zaree's conversations with her relatives and fellow survivors of Evin. The narrative sensitively engages the trauma of the past without sensationalizing it, striving for authenticity at every step.

In the vein of other deeply personal documentaries, the genius of the film lies in its ability to offer a specific, individual narrative that speaks to universal human experiences – trauma, resilience, identity, history, and the indomitable power of the human spirit to endure.

Throughout Born in Evin, Maryam Zaree effectively balances the political and the personal, the painful and the hopeful, to create a comprehensive picture of her life and, by extension, the lives of countless other Iranians born in the shadow of a turbulent political landscape.

In essence, Born in Evin is a moving exploration of identity, heritage, and the power of truth in the setting of political turmoil. It is an unforgettable journey into a past marked by violence, fear, and resilience. It is at once deeply personal, yet profoundly relevant to the wider world, showcasing the filmmaker's bravery in untangling her past and facing the painful truth of her own history. With Born in Evin, Zaree has crafted an engaging, emotionally raw piece of cinema that tells a story of survival and resilience while shedding light on a particularly dark chapter of Iran's history.