The Hidden Half

"The Hidden Half" (2001) provides a fairly compelling look into Iranian society and the gender roles within it. Set in Tehran, capital of Iran, the story begins with a seemingly ordinary couple, but will later prove to be one of surprisingly contrasting backgrounds. "Fereshteh," the film's main protagonist, learns of her spouses new case for which he is to be an official in sentencing a woman for alleged crimes. As her husband casually dismisses the case's significance she is immediately compelled to speak out for this anonymous, presumably innocent, woman for whom she wishes to help.

While her husband is out of town to deliberate with the other officials the imprisoned woman's fate he discovers a journal containing his wife's mysterious life story the likes of which has never been shared before. Fereshteh slipped this retelling into his luggage with the hopes that he would find it and reconsider his thinking process when reaching his eventual verdict.

The entirety of the movie is then set jumping back and forth from present to past as the husband reads over his wife's story. In it he learns of her youth as a university student, her involvement with a rebellious communist movement, and most importantly her first true encounter with romance via "Roozbeh."

The film itself is by far not of the most breathtaking acting or cinematography; yet, the piece captivates its audience almost despite or in spite of this. Being that the film was written and directed by a woman it somewhat parallels the difficulties portrayed by the number of women represented in the film. The essential purpose of the story is to move Fereshteh's husband to look past his societal mentalities and seek out the true character on trial-- to learn who the charged woman really is. And just as this presents the struggle of women in the Middle East, so does nearly every scene throughout the movie. Amidst a love affair, revolution, and more, the piece does well in showing the imbalance of power between men and women in Iran and the faults of ignorance and naivety...

Definitely worth a watch.