Documentary directed by Leila Amini, “A Sisters’ Tale” released on December 11 follows her sister Nasreen for seven years, who wants to become a singer in a country, Iran, where women are not allowed to sing in public.
Nasreen dreams of becoming a singer. However, she lives in Iran, where women are not allowed to sing publicly. Her husband, Mohammad, takes a very dim view of his wife’s ambitions. On the other hand, Nasreen’s mother, sisters and children support her. One of her sisters, Leila Amini, decided to film her for seven years in her fight for her freedom. The result is a documentary film called “A Sisters’ Tale”, or “The Tale of a Sister” in French.
External content
This external content cannot be displayed because it may collect personal data. To view this content you must authorize the category Social networks.
Accept More info
Support from men too
“It’s a film that I made for my sister, but also for all women who are in a situation similar to that of Nasreen,” explains director Leila Amini in the Vertigo show on December 9, 2024. In this film , we see a lot of women, but men also exist there, through their absence.”
Among the men present in the film, if some do not approve of Nasreen’s ambition – attached to traditions, her husband Mohammad is moving further and further away – others support her. Among the latter, the late father of the two sisters as well as Hamid, Nasreen’s son. “Our father supported Nasreen when we were little. I also have a lot of hope in Hamid, this young man who represents the future generation. And when Nasreen starts singing, we also see other men who support her, who wish so that women can sing in Iran,” explains Leila Amini.
In our society dominated by patriarchy and men who sometimes limit their daughters and wives, I was lucky to have a father who gave us a lot of courage, who supported us in what we wanted to do.
Also interviewed in Vertigo, Nasreen Amini remembers her hesitation when her sister started filming her. “If I had been a single woman who received an offer from her sister for a film, of course it would have been very easy. But at the time, since I was not alone, I was the wife of Mohammad and I had children, it was difficult to say yes to Leila without thinking of the consequences this film could have for them.
A broadcast planned in Iran
While the two sisters are doing their best to protect their family in Iran, they want the documentary to be broadcast in their home country as well. “This film was mostly made indoors. It’s about a woman who wants to follow her dream and that woman is my sister. So the context is quite intimate. And all the scenes outside the house are in agreement with the current law So, it is quite defensible in my opinion with regard to the laws in Iran”, explains Leila Amini. The film should be shown in private screenings, which are in principle permitted.
The film was also presented as the opening of Critics’ Week at the Locarno Film Festival in summer 2024. After the world premiere screening, Nasreen sang there for the first time in public, in front of nearly 900 people.
Since then, some family members have not returned to Iran, the director explained to Keystone-ATS on Monday. Nasreen continues to write poems and sing. She is currently preparing her first album. Leila Amini is working on the second film which she plans to shoot in Iran.
Radio subject: Pierre Philippe Cadert
Web adaptation: Myriam Semaani with ats
“A Sister’s Tale” by Leila Amini. To be seen in French-speaking cinemas since December 11, 2024.
