Tehran Taboo

Tehran Taboo is an edgy and dramatic film produced in 2017, which deploys the unique animation technique of rotoscoping to bring to life the stories of three self-assertive women and a young musician living in the bustling capital city of Iran, Tehran. This provocative film, directed by Iranian-born German-based Ali Soozandeh, explores the intricate dynamics of contemporary Iranian society, creating a visually stunning and deeply emotive narrative. The movie features remarkable performances by Hasan Ali Mete, Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, and Jasmina Ali, among others.

The film begins with the introduction of Pari (Elmira Rafizadeh), a struggling mother who resorts to sex work, in disguise of a translator, just to make ends meet after her husband's imprisonment due to drug-related charges. Confined by the stringent laws of her society, Pari negotiates to navigate the dangerous realms of Tehran's underground world, exhibiting the unjust forces that push many women into precarious situations.

Complementing Pari's hardship is Sara (Zahra Amir Ebrahimi), a pregnant woman living with an overbearing husband and a stern mother-in-law. She aspires to work but societal norms and directives are constantly pressed upon her, keeping her locked into domesticity. The depiction of the after-effects of patriarchal strain on Sara outlines the difficulty of female emancipation in such a rigid and traditional society.

Another plot weaves the story of Donya (Negar Mona Alizadeh), who is about to get married but is haunted by a past encounter, symbolizing the societal obsession with female virginity. Meanwhile, the narrative of Babak (Arash Marandi), an aspiring musician facing an ethical dilemma linked to Donya's predicament, articulates the moral pressures young men undergo in conservative societies.

Tehran Taboo presents an interlaced narrative, drawing a vivid picture of the paradoxes and contradictions of modern life in an ideologically constrained society. These characters, who are in different spectrums of living in Tehran, grapple with the tabooed dilemmas within Iranian society through their own individual lives. They all struggle with the social, moral, and sexual boundaries set by their society in their tentative quest for freedom, minor joys and pleasures. Their stories provide a profound and emotional roller coaster that demonstrates the perseverance and courage required to question societal norms under challenging circumstances.

The film's technique of rotoscoping (tracing live-action footage and then filling in the details)- a rare medium in feature films-allow the director to portray the seamier side of life in Tehran, in a way a live-action film never could. The elaborately sketched cityscapes, bustling markets, and animated recreation of Tehran nightlife offer a realistic glimpse of the city and counter the ideological imaginations painted by various political narratives of the country.

The animation format brings a poetic and aesthetic quality to the narrative, delivering a visceral and heightened emotional experience to the viewers. Despite the grim realities it depicts, the film is vibrant—with colorful Persian carpets, beautifully adorned mosques and bustling Iranian tea houses, etc., visually overwhelming the viewers and offering moments of beauty in midst of difficult narratives.

The intricate sound design and music of the movie, combining traditional Iranian music with electric guitar riffs, amplify the cultural dichotomies and paradoxes the movie seeks to depict, thereby enhancing the overall immersive experience of the viewer.

Tehran Taboo is more than a vibrant animation film; it is a courageous socio-political commentary, a poignant emotional narrative, and a bold visual experience that pushes boundaries while inviting viewers to delve into an intricate exploration of culture, desires, and dreams in the face of societal repression. It does not simply portray Iranian society as an oppressive regime; it highlights regular people, with their everyday lives and dreams, trying to navigate through the labyrinth of societal norms and expectations.

The film endeavors to bring to light various universal issues including hypocrisy, gender inequality, and violation of human rights, interwoven with a culturally specific context. And yet, there's a level of universality to the characters' experiences, a sadness at the unfulfilled promises and crushed dreams which resonate across diverse cultures and societies. Tehran Taboo compels the audience to question their own prejudices and to reconstruct their understanding of Iran and its people. With its unique visual style and thought-provoking narrative, Soozandeh's Tehran Taboo is an experience not to be missed.