History vs. Herstory: Toward an Alternative Narrative of Iranian War Cinema

• Published in: Quarterly review of film and video Vol. 40; no. 6; p. 658
• Main Author: Heydari, Behnaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis Ltd 20.08.2023
• Subjects: Film studies; Motion picture criticism; Motion picture directors & producers; Motion picture production; War; Women; Iran
• ISSN: 1050-9208
• DOI: 10.1080/10509208.2022.2041957

Heydari discusses the portrayal of war in Iranian cinema, specifically focusing on the lack of representation of women's experiences during and after the war. While war movies typically depict soldiers on the front lines, there are few movies that explore the struggles of women during this time. He mentions several films that have deviated from the traditional portrayal of war, including those that highlight the side effects of war on future generations and the role of female nurses. Female directors have also contributed to the genre, depicting the consequences of war on families and commanders' households. He highlights the work of director Abyar, who has focused on the experiences of women living far from the war scene but still influenced by it.