Middleast

Fest of Duty

Firouzeh Khosrovani
Screening time  
27.02. / Friday, 20:00 - 22:00 Theatre 2  
'Fest of Duty' is a religious ceremony designed to instil Islamic beliefs and values in girls when they reach the age of nine. The film follows two adolescent cousins as they transition into adulthood eight years after their official Fest of Duty.

The hall is packed with chattering Iranian schoolgirls wearing lilac robes and white hijabs. An imam explains to them that at nine years old they have reached the “age of duty.” This, he says, is the moment at which puberty begins, bringing with it all the accompanying religious precepts. Carefree days are over, and from now on the angel on the right shoulder and the devil on the left will be there watching, weighing up good and evil. At the instigation of the imam, the girls dutifully chant when they should or should not wear the hijab. Greeted by loud cheering, a whipped cream version of the Kaaba is sliced up. Eight years later, filmmaker Firouzeh Khosrovani visits two of the children she filmed: Melika and Maryam, the cousins and former best friends. Maryam wears her hijab with full conviction and shares her existential doubts with God. Melika dreams of a career as an actress, paints her nails, and posts selfies on Instagram.

Firouzeh

Firouzeh Khosrovani

Firouzeh Khosrovani, born in Tehran, finished her artistic studies at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, Italy. After graduating in 2002 she returned to Iran and acquired her Master’s degree in Journalism. Since then, she has contributed to, and collaborated with numerous Italian newspapers and magazines. Her previous documentaries include Rough Cut (2008), L’archivio a oriente (2012), Profession: Documentarist (2014), Fest of Duty (2014), Radiograph of a Family (2020). Her latest film is 1001 Irans.

General sponsor

Jashn-e Taklif

Iran
2014, 60', DCP

Directed by:
Firouzeh Khosrovani

Screenplay by:
Firouzeh Khosrovani

Cinematography:
Mohammad Reza Jahanpanah, Rita Ebrahimi

Edited by:
Shirin Barghnavard

Producer:
Firouzeh Khosrovani

Produced by:
Firouzeh Khosrovani

Festivals & Awards:

IDFA 2014 – Oxfam Global Justice Award