Film: Cutting Through Rocks

Today, decided on film - and what came up was Cutting Through Rocks, a documentary about a female politician in Iran. Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury - and with it booking heavily, I booked too. And on a miserable, wet day like today, what else would you be doing..?

Despite the usual change of driver en route (and my slippy shoes on wet concrete), I was in good time - and of course, the cinema app played up, displaying my ticket when I'd asked it for my membership card to get my discount on food and drink. I did make it on time to see some interesting trailers - as always, here.

This documentary focuses on an unusual woman - after having several daughters, her father hoped for a son, but she was born instead.. they did have sons later, but he also treated her somewhat like a boy, taking her, as she puts it, "places only boys were allowed". She also learned to ride a motorbike - which then informed her clothing choices, so that she wears trousers and a fitted coat, instead of the burka: more practical for the bike. We learn that she was forced into marriage - footage of the day shows her looking miserable, and the marriage eventually ended in divorce.

With no children - indeed, after a divorce the husband keeps the children anyway - she threw herself into other pursuits. At the beginning of the film, we see her fighting against her brothers on behalf of her sisters, the brothers trying to get the sisters to sign away their entitlement to the family property. It was only natural for her to go into local politics - and lo, she topped the poll! No-brainer really - the women had a vote but had rarely used it, so she appealed to them and all of a sudden a wave of new voters came out.. Nice to see some young men that supported her too.

Beware the backlash, however - including from her own brothers. Familiar as I am with women being allowed to determine their own destinies, it's so frustrating for me to see the insidious sexism rife in this rural Iranian environment. Constantly, the refrain (from the women as well, who have been brought up to believe the men are always right) is to calm down, agree, don't start arguments. Crikey, thinking about it, it was like that in the West as well, back in the day.. women were supposed to be meek, always polite, peacemakers. Nothing wrong with peacemaking as long as your own rights aren't infringed..

One thing that happens is that the politician who tops the poll gets the official seal, required on documents - the efforts they go to, to try to get that back from her! As she says, they just want it to pass illegal deals.. I love how she manages to get gas piped into the village - something the "elders" have spent years failing to do - but ONLY to houses where the husband has shared ownership with his wife! Funny how many husbands suddenly decide that might be a good idea.. 

But it's not all success - and when she goes to speak to a class of girls, and makes them promise to stay in education and not get married young.. well, you just know that's not their decision. The film also follows the story of one girl, married at 12, now 16 and wanting a divorce - and the sight of her sitting alone in court, being lectured to by the judge about how shameful it would be to be a divorcee, and how she should, essentially, suck it up and learn to live with her husband.. ugh. 

Recommended - but frustrating.

Afterwards, to GBK, who, happily, still have half price burgers in the afternoon - which wasn't that busy, but they still managed to muck up my order! Honestly - the first thing I always do is check for tomato, which I can't eat, and ask for them to leave out.. and was very miffed to find a slice in my burger today. But it wasn't until I'd removed it and was cutting through that I suddenly realised - this was a beefburger and I'd ordered chicken! When I said it to the waiter, he apologised and brought the correct one in short order - something about them "having the same number"..

Oh, and they had to change bus drivers again on my way home. What is it about the #188..?

Tomorrow, back with The Hideout for a film quiz! Also hosted by Movie Roadhouse London, and happening in the Prince Charles Cinema - so glad I get to go to one of these at last! It only just occurred to me tonight to buy a ticket - the quiz is actually run by the cinema, and is ticketed! I'm just not used to buying tickets for quizzes.. Eating in Bella Italia beforehand, then meeting the group in Victory House.

On Tuesday, I've booked for Sabrage, a new circus show happening in Lafayette.

I was just figuring out what to do on Wednesday when I got an email from Top Secret comedy club, advertising a WIP show by Russell Howard that night - looked better than what I had been considering, so I booked! In their new venue on Kingsway, which I haven't yet visited. Eating in Cote Covent Garden afterwards.

On Thursday, thinking of The Story of Souleymane, jury prizewinner at Cannes, which is an immigrant drama set in Paris. Showing in the Garden Cinema.

Then two Meetups - on Friday, back with London Social & Cultural Meetups for a social at The Parcel Yard.

And on Saturday, London Museums from A-Z were kind enough to stage an event for those of us with October and November birthdays! Details TBA, Hallowe'en costumes apparently encouraged! And it seems it'll involve a ghost walk..

Next Sunday, I'm with TAC at a classical guitar concert, Due Cordi Brillanti, at King's Place.

Then three Meetups: on the 27th, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at Soho Theatre for Little Brother - planning to meet my sometime travel companion, who's also going, in the nearby Nellie Dean beforehand.

On the 28th, a new Meetup group to me, Rewind Tours of London, which apparently runs pay-what-you-like walks, has a special Hallowe'en walk - London: City of Death!

And on the 29th, The Hideout has grabbed me again - we're headed to Nightmare on Elm Street 2 at Cineworld Leicester Square. And yes, meeting at Victory House again, and I'll be in Bella Italia before that..