One of the great parts of attending festivals is discovery. There are so many films (278 over 11 days) to choose from with little to no information about them outside of a quick tagline and a still photo that you run into most experiences blind. This is particularly true for smaller cinema, something that is hard to come by with a packed, on the ground schedule but one that will almost always give you a hidden gem you never saw coming. “Seven Days” is that film, a heartbreaking yet triumphant story of activism vs motherhood framed at the center of Iranian protests for women’s rights. From the moment the story begins to take shape, it grips you with arresting emotion and powerful imagery and never lets go until the final moments. “Seven Days,” which I saw at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), is a powerful story with something to say, steadfast in its political commentary while never losing sight of the themes of family, love, loss, and standing up for what you believe in.
Written by Mohammad Rasoulof who also wrote “The Seed of a Sacred Fig” (another major festival player making the rounds currently) and directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi, “Seven Days” follows Maryam, an activist and mother who has been imprisoned for her protests. She is granted a rare medical leave for seven days, in which she is to return to prison and most not engage in any political activity during her release. Her husband and two children who has been living in Germany during her imprisonment have arranged for a daring escape from Iran during her leave, and she must make the treacherous journey through the snow covered mountains and military patrol to reach them past the border. Once she reaches her family after a two day journey and time running out, she must make the agonizing choice of whether to escape with them to freedom or return to Iran to continue her fight for rights. The film stars Vishka Asayesh, Majid Bakhtiari, and Zanyar Mohammadi.
When the arduous journey and nail biting escape through the smuggling network is only the beginning of “Seven Days,” you know you’re in for an emotional gut punch. Ahadi is so confident in his vision and purpose, commanding his story with empathy and complexity to which there is no right answer to Maryam’s moral quandary. Ahadi is unafraid to examine both sides of her struggle, offer no easy solution as it explores the importance of motherhood and fighting for change. As a viewer, “Seven Days” constantly has you questioning which side you feel Maryam should choose, internalizing her own struggle and leaving a resonate mark on your heart. It is powerful stuff, one that in less capable hands would not be able to sustain the personal turmoil made universal through its passion and spirit.
Vishka Asayesh is mesmerizing in her performance as Maryam, anchoring the swirl of emotion required from scene to scene. Whether it’s embarking on the terrifying smuggling journey, loving her family or standing firm for her beliefs, Asayesh is a powerhouse in “Seven Days.” She is surrounded by an equaling compelling her cast, particularly from newcomer Tanaz Molaei who plays Maryam’s daughter and whom also harbors the most resentment for her mother’s choice of activism over being the mom she needs. The two share the most challenging and emotionally charged scene in “Seven Days,” in which all choices and consequences come to a head and the needs of mother, daughter and activist collide. The family reunion may feel slightly heavy handed at times, but the powerful cast dynamics and heartfelt performances elevate any of these misgivings, delivering a truly emotional and poignant cinematic experience.
“Seven Days” is about unspoken sacrifice. The kind that is rarely discussed when we examine activism, protest, and the fight for change. Rarely are we given a glimpse into what people give up to share their voice, nor do we examine how it effects their loved ones, particularly when that very fight has dire consequences. Often it is portrayed as extreme trauma and resolution, or a call to action on the part of the viewer and others. “Seven Days” digs deeper, never showing the actions on the streets but never discounting what Maryam is fighting for even as she stands to lose everything. It toils with what change actually means and for whom, and how those decisions alter (for better or worse) the lives of those who aren’t in the fight themselves. The husbands and children and parents etc. are all victims of revolution, and “Seven Days” brilliantly shifts its lens from the broader eye to a much more personal and emotional approach.
It is a film with a lot to say, and even if you’re not as blown away by it all as I was, its themes are sure to fester in your brain and will reshape the way you look at everyday revolutionaries; as mothers, as daughters, as more than just their voice echoed in media coverage for change. Each person is complex each decision they make effects others, and “Seven Days” is a small but mighty film that shares in the complexity of humanity and loved ones. It’s fighting for those you love even if it means losing them forever.
Even after 70+ films screened at the festival, “Seven Days” remains high on the rankings. A true hidden gem discovery that I hope is given distribution and place for more people to check it out.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
“Seven Days” had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. There is currently no theatrical or streaming release date available. You can watch the trailer below.
