Farhang Foundation Congratulates Shirin Neshat

Farhang Foundation congratulates the internationally renowned artist Shirin Neshat for her latest major achievement and winning the Silver Lion for best director for her directorial debut of Zanan Bedoone Mardan (Women Without Men), at the Sixty-sixth Venice Film Festival.

Farhang Foundation is proud to have had the opportunity and honor to pre-screen this highly acclaimed and praised film, on June 15, 2009 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Bing Theater, viewed by hundreds of members of the community, both Iranian and non-Iranian.

Although the screening consisted of only the work-in-progress segments of the film, it was highly praised by everyone in attendance, and was followed by a discussion between Shirin Neshat and Nasrin Rahimieh, Professor of Comparative Literature and Film, University of California, Irvine.

“Women Without Men," Shirin Neshat’s first feature length film, is based on a magic realist novel written by Iranian author Sharnush Parsipur. The narrative interweaves the lives of four Iranian women during the summer of 1953, a pivotal moment in Iranian history when an American led Coup d'état brought down the democratically elected Prime Minister Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh and reinstalled the Shah to power. The film chronicles the lives of the four characters in parallel manner. Each woman appearing to be suffering and running away from some sort of social, cultural or sexual oppression; yet their lives mysteriously converge in an orchard where they attempt to create their own society. The story follows the construction and eventual breakdown of this 'utopian' society. The film is expected to be released in 2009-2010.

Shirin Neshat is a source of pride and inspiration to Iranians worldwide!