Columbia Queer Alliance and the Columbia Iranian Student Association are screening “Circumstance,” the story of two young women coming of age in contemporary Iran, where they struggle between their sexualities and the religious expectations of their families.
The free film showing is on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Roone Arledge Auditorium, with a question and answer session following the film featuring the associate producer and Columbia alum Hossein Keshavarz.
“Circumstance,” which won the Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, follows Iranian teens Atafeh and Shireen as they explore Tehran’s underground scene and grapple with their identities in a world that will not accept them. In a parallel plot, Atafeh’s brother Mehran battles addiction and obsession. Themes of desire, rebellion, tradition, and acceptance are present in the characters’ story lines, and mirror the larger youth culture in Iran today.
In his visit to Columbia’s campus in 2007, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that there were no homosexuals in Iran, later amending his statement to say that there were a few.
Mytra Haerizadeh, co-vice president of CISA and CC ’12, said in an email, “From my experience in visiting Iran, that is not a valid statement. I know plenty of Iranians that are LBGT. I am hoping that people will see a different side of the Iranian community. In the movie, Atafeh (the main character) is from a wealthy, liberal, westernized Iranian family. The Iranian population is very diverse (especially in the cities) and we are hoping this movie will help people see that.”
In addition to the responses it received at film festivals and by critics, “Circumstance” made an impression on both the LGBTQ and Iranian communities at Columbia.
“While so many legal victories are being won for LGBTQ Americans, we think it’s important to bring attention to the state of LGBTQ rights around the world,” Kila Walser, CC ’12 and vice president of CQA, said. “‘Circumstance’ is quite controversial in Iran, where it is banned, and the cast and crew can never return to the country. Although CQA respects that ‘Circumstance’ presents certain issues that may conflict with some belief systems, we think that this portrayal of the real experiences of queer Iranians is vital to the advancement of LGBTQ rights abroad.”
According to Haerizadeh, the screening of “Circumstance” is the first time CQA and CISA have worked together on an event or project. “Such an unprecedented collaboration speaks to the message of ‘Circumstance’ and, hopefully, to changing times for LGBTQ Iranians,” Haerizadeh said. “We are so excited that CQA and CISA are working together for the benefit of all students and the members of both groups.”
Both groups felt that the film has a message that they believe Columbia students should hear. “With ‘Circumstance,’ we want the event to attract students from many different backgrounds and with diverse viewpoints,” Walser said. “By cosponsoring with the Columbian Iranian Student Association, we are gearing the event not only to LGBTQ and allied students, but also to students who may never have attended a queer event before.”
And maybe best of all, according to CISA, viewers can enjoy tea and Persian cookies with the clubs after the show.
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