Ava is a semi-autobiographical story about a young woman, who is the ideal student, she is musically inclined and from a well-to-do family, that follows traditional, post-Revolution Iranian values. When Ava (Mahour Jabbari) is caught in what is considered a shameful situation with a boy, her mother (Bahar Noohian) reacts in a manner that destroys Ava’s trust in her family, the school system and Iranian society as a whole.
Almost any Iranian film made after 1978 is extremely difficult to watch. What was one the most modern nations along with Lebanon in the Middle East quickly deteriorated into an oppressive society that tried to dictate morality through politics via a theocracy. Stories are continuously shared about Pre-Revolution Iran at the dinner table, over card games, backgammon or whatever other social gathering, it makes us wonder what if, in hopes for a better what is.
Producer/Director/Writer Sadaf Foroughi depicts the hypocrisy and sexual oppression of women through the means of the state via mandated virtues used by the family on their children. Ava shows the longing for freedom of expression through rebellion in the face of oppression.
Movies like Lady Bird make the lead character look like a spoiled, unappreciative brat in comparison to true women’s suffrage around the world. Although the title character of Ava isn’t nearly as oppressed as more impoverished women in her situation would be, the point is made very clearly — once trust is lost, it is virtually impossible to get be regained.
Ava opens in limited release on Friday, April 27, 2018.
Ava
- Overall Score
The Verdict
Ava is a story about broken trust that once lost can never be regained, especially when the truth is viewed as a lie.
