Iranian-Czech ‘Son-Mother’ to go on screen at Zlin filmfest

The 60th edition of the Zlin Film Festival in the Czech Republic has scheduled to screen Iranian-Czech feature ‘Son-Mother’.

Directed by Mahnaz Mohammadi, 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.

The movie won awards for best film and best director at the Alice Nella Citta section of the 14th International Rome Film Festival in Italy.

It has gone on screen at a number of global events, including the 44th Toronto International Film Festival in Canada, the 15th Zurich Film Festival in Switzerland, the 27th Prague International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, and the 43rd Göteborg Film Festival in Sweden.

“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,” website of the Zurich Film Festival wrote about the 102-minute ‘Son-Mother’.

The main roles in the flick have been portrayed by Raha Khodayari, Mahan Nasiri, Reza Behboudi, Maryam Boubani, and Shiva Ordouee.

Founded in 1961, the Zlin Film Festival, also known as the International Film Festival for Children and Youth, is an annual festival of children's film in the Czech Republic.

This year’s edition of the annual event, which used to be held in June, has been rescheduled over the COVID-19 pandemic to be held on September 4-10, 2020.

The festival will present 300 films from 50 countries, including 158 premieres as well as 37 film workshops and a supporting program.

Read more:

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

Zlin fest to present Iranian ‘Gando’

Zlin fest picks two more Iran shorts

MG/MG