Woman, Life, Liberty: The Day I Became A Woman + The House Is Black

Feminist Cinema From Iran

"Stunner of a film… an astonishing directorial debut" - New York Times

The Day I Became A Woman
Dir: Marzieh Meshkini
2000
78 Minutes
Persian with English subtitles

A beautiful and intense triptych of three stages of a woman's life, this marks an extraordinary directorial debut for Marziyeh Meshkini. Alternately funny, surreal, and heartbreaking, and filled with breathtaking imagery. Episode one, entitled "Havva," concerns a young girl on the morning of her ninth birthday. Against her better wishes, she is forced to stay home, away from her best friend who has asked her to play with him, due to her mother and grandmother's proclamation that she is now a woman. Learning she was born at noon, the young girl requests one more hour to do what she wishes so she can be a girl one last time. Episode two, entitled "Ahoo," follows a young woman who is being pursued on horseback by her stern husband, whom she is fleeing on bicycle in the midst of a women's biking race. Soon, her in-laws and relatives are also pursuing her, and she must make a quick decision about whether or not to return to family life. The final episode, called "Houra," follows an elderly woman who enlists the help of a young boy and his friends to take her on a shopping spree, where she intends to buy all of the things she has ever wanted out of life.

Preceded by

The House Is Black
Dir: Forugh Farrokhzad
1962
21 Minutes
Persian with English subtitles

The only film directed by trailblazing feminist Iranian poet Forough Farrokhzad finds unexpected grace where few would think to look: a leper colony whose inhabitants live, worship, learn, play, and celebrate in a self-contained community cut off from the rest of the world.

Admission is by donation

Dreaming Worlds In Motion: Art Writing Workshop

Join Fiona Glen for a writing workshop in response to Anna Binta Diallo’s exhibition, Predictions. Inspired by Diallo’s approach, we will use creative…

Kids First

Come get creative on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month with a day of art-making and fun at The Polygon Gallery. The projects are geared towards…

Meet Me At The Gallery: Seniors Program

Meet Me at The Gallery is a daytime art program dedicated to enriching the lives of seniors and friends in our community with monthly get-togethers inspired…

Lee Miller: A Photographer At Work (1932—1945) Opening...

Join us on Thursday, November 6 for the Lee Miller: A Photographer At Work (1932—1945) Opening Celebration.
7:00 pm – Doors
7:30 pm –…

Present Revolutions: Stepping Workshop + Film Screening

Presented in collaboration with FORM (Festival of Recorded Movement), Present Revolutions is a collection of films that respond to social issues of our…

Charlotte Zhang: Tireslashers Opening Celebration

Join us on Thursday, November 27 for the opening celebration of Charlotte Zhang: Tireslashers.
Doors at 7:00pm
Remarks at 7:30pm
RSVPs are…