Human Rights Watch Film Festival: Born in Evin

D: Maryam Zaree | 95 min | 2019 | Germany, Austria | RATING: PG

When she was 12 years old, actress and filmmaker Maryam Zaree found out that she was one of a number of babies born inside Evin, Iran’s most notorious political prison. Maryam’s parents were imprisoned shortly after Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in 1979, a period in which tens of thousands of political dissidents were arrested and tortured. With Born in Evin, Maryam confronts decades of silence in her family and embarks on an exploration into the circumstances of her birth. On this vulnerable, lyrical journey Maryam considers the impact of trauma on the bodies and souls of survivors and their children, leading her to question how her generation can relate to their own history while also respecting the people they love as they prefer to heal in silence.

Post-screening discussion with Professor Homa Hoodfar from Concordia University and HRW’s Iran Researcher, Tara Sepehri Far. Moderated by HRW’s Canada Director, Farida Deif.