In media coverage of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, the focus has been on what’s happening in Iran. And for good reason. According to an independent fact-finding mission (FFMI) on Iran, the Islamic Republic was “responsible for egregious human rights violations under international law, including unlawful killings and murder”.
Moreover, the FFMI determined that “arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances disproportionately affected women, children, and members of ethnic and religious minorities”.
Sadly, this necessary focus on Iran has obscured the pain of Persian international students in Canada. Fortunately, a new movie, One Must Wash Eyes, addresses this critical issue in ways that will build empathy and promote understanding.
The writer and director of One Must Wash Eyes, Sepideh Yadegar (Uprooted), came to Vancouver as an international student from Iran. Her experiences undoubtedly added to the authenticity of her lead character, an international student named Sahar. Played brilliantly by Iranian-born Toronto actor Pegah Ghafoori (From), Sahar is a considerate young woman with a sharp mind.
One day, she attends a Women, Life, Freedom protest outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. It’s one of many demonstrations around the world focusing attention on the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini. Amini was arrested for not wearing her hijab in accordance with government rules, resulting in a fatal beating in police custody in Iran.
Unbeknownst to Sahar, she’s photographed at the Vancouver protest and her face winds up on the front page of a local newspaper. This creates havoc for her in Vancouver and for family members in Iran.
Tumult in Iran creates uncertainty
Cinematographer Negin Khazaee cleverly captures the fleeting nature of Vancouver political demonstrations. Invariably, people gather in the square along West Georgia Street, listen to speeches, and then disperse, sometimes not even speaking to one another.
However, this ephemeral protest has long-lasting repercussions for Sahar.
She is already under tremendous financial strain as she waits for money from back home to cover punishing tuition fees imposed on international students. But tumult in Iran creates great uncertainty.
If Sahar can’t meet the school’s deadline to pay her fees, the Canadian government might cancel her student visa. That, in turn, could lead to deportation. Moreover, Sahar knows that if she’s forced to return to Iran, she might be arrested and tortured.
Ghafoori conveys the angst of her character in remarkably nuanced ways. At work, she’s upbeat and responsible, masking her inner pain. But it all breaks down in private. Composer Amine Bouzaher’s wonderfully evocative score reinforces the agony of Sahar’s predicament.
Yet it’s not entirely gloomy. Sahar has suitors as she struggles with some of the same challenges as other post-secondary students in Canada. She takes comfort speaking on the phone in Farsi with her loving mother, played sweetly by Mitra Lohrasb (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow).
There are also moving scenes juxtaposing Sahar’s suffering alongside joyful imagery of the director, Yadegar, dancing in a red dress. These images hold the promise of what’s possible for this brilliant young woman.
Lessons for policymakers and the media
Yet the ever-present cloud of the Iranian government crackdown remains over Sahar’s head. The cinematography, lighting, and Yadegar’s editing enhance the mood by showing how alone this international student really is. This is notwithstanding her blossoming friendship with Matt, ably portayed by Sean Depner (Riverdale).
It’s clear that this emotionally fraught film was a labour of love for Yadegar and the cast and crew, many of whom trace their roots back to Iran. Furthermore, One Must Wash Eyes demonstrates that what’s happening in Iran is a Canadian story with real-world implications in Vancouver.
Let’s hope that Yadegar’s film influences policymakers, post-secondary institutions, and the media to give more thought as to how to support international students. To date, Canada has mostly milked them for money even as politicians and media commentators have falsely blamed them for the housing crisis.
One Must Wash Eyes had its world premiere on June 22 at the Oakville Film Festival. The title is a reminder of Iranian security forces’ propensity for shooting pellets, paintball bullets, and tear-gas cannisters directly at demonstrators’ eyes, causing devastating injuries. Consider this dramatic feature film a bull’s-eye back in the face of the hateful regime.
Watch the trailer for One Must Wash Eyes.
The 11th annual Oakville Film Festival runs until June 25. For more information, visit the website. Learn more about diverse communities from the Toronto Spark website. Follow the Toronto Spark on X @TOSparkOfficial.
