Rome Film Fest honors Iranian-Czech ‘Son-Mother’

The 14th edition of International Rome Film Festival in Italy has awarded Iranian-Czech co-production ‘Son-Mother’.

Directed by Mahnaz Mohammadi, the movie won two top prizes at the Alice Nella Citta section of the Italian event.

‘Son-Mother’ received the awards for best film and best director at the mentioned section which is devoted to children's films.

The film addresses the impact of tradition on the lives of women in present-day Iran, when a young widow is faced with the choice to either abandon her son or succumb to poverty.

‘Son-Mother’ is about a widow who works tirelessly at a failing factory in Iran. She receives a marriage proposal that could mean financial security — but could also tear her family apart.

It has gone on screen at a number of global events, including the 44th Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the 15th Zurich Film Festival in Switzerland.

“Leila does not really have a choice. Ever since her husband died, she had to take care of her 12-year-old son Amir and his little sister on her own, and provide ... income without support. In addition, the Iranian economy, her free spirit, and the daily gossip could make her lose her factory job at any time. When the lovable, widowed bus driver Kazem proposes to her, she and her son are faced with making a serious decision – because this new marriage is tied to an impossible condition,” the Zurich festival’s website wrote about the 102-minute ‘Son-Mother’.

Those starring in the flick include Raha Khodayari, Mahan Nasiri, Reza Behboudi and Shiva Ordouee.

The Rome Film Fest was established in February 2007 to promote cinema at a local, national and international level.

It hosts a large and challenging program of screenings, master classes, tributes, retrospectives, panels, and special events.

The event ran on October 17-27, 2019 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica and other venues throughout the Italian capital of Rome.

MG/AG