Fajr attendee ‘Yalda’ not about revenge but forgiveness: director

Iranian director Masoud Bakhshi has said his movie ‘Yalda’, participating at this year’s editions of the Fajr Film Festival, is not about retaliation, but rather forgiveness.

Speaking at a press conference for the movie, Bakhshi stressed that forgiveness is "a human and universal issue".

The film tells the story of Maryam Komijani, a young woman who has been sentenced to death for the murder of her husband.

On Yalda Night, an ancient Persian cultural festive marking the longest night of the year, she has been brought to a studio to be forgiven by the victim’s only daughter, Mona Ziya, during a live TV program.

But the victim’s daughter has asked for lex talionis, the law of retaliation (also known as “an eye for an eye”).

The film was co-produced by Iran, France, Germany, Switzerland and Lebanon. ‘Yalda’ is starring Behnaz Jafari and Faqiheh Soltani.

Jacques Bidou, the French producer of the flick, said, “The world and Europe are in need of Iranian cinema and they should learn from it.”

The event coincides with the ten-day Fajr ceremonies across Iran, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The 37th Fajr Film Festival was inaugurated on January 30, and is set to run until February 11 in the capital city of Tehran.

SQ/MG