"The Hidden Half" released in 2001 gives us a look inside the Iranian society and a look at just how much gender inequality there is. The movie begins with a couple, including the main character Fereshteh. Her husband is dealing with a case about a women who has been accused of crimes. He decides not to defend her, but when Fereshteh hears of this she knows she must do something to help. She slips a journal into his bag before he leaves to go over the case.
The journal tells a tale that no one not even the husband had heard of before. It is Fereshteh journey quite similar to the one of the girl who is in trouble. After that the rest of the movie jumps back and forth from past to present as the husband reads her story. The story tells tales of her time as a university student, her time with a rebellious communist movement, and her love affair with Roozbeh.
This film is unlike any that we are used to watching in theaters. It is slow, quiet, and simple. Despite all of this is captures the truth unlike some Iranian based films that do not depict the truth. The film was also directed by an Iranian women, which shows us great contrast. We get to really see the side of the women and how they have faced gender inequalities. It shows the true struggle of women all over the middle east and speaks out for them in this film, shedding light on just how much they have to deal with.
Overall I really enjoyed this movie and I think it is a must see for anyone studying the Middle East or simply wanting to view a film directed by an Iranian women herself, to see the differences.
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