Cork Cine Club presents SHAYDA [Iran/Australia]

Tickets go on sale Sunday 15 September at 8:00am.

An Iranian woman living in Australia, Shayda finds refuge in a women’s shelter with her frightened six-year-old daughter, Mona. Having fled her husband, Hossein, and filed for divorce, Shayda struggles to maintain normalcy for Mona. Buoyed by the approach of Nowruz (Persian New Year), she tries to forge a fresh start with new and unfettered freedoms. But when a judge grants Hossein visitation rights, he re-enters their lives, stoking Shayda’s fear that he’ll attempt to take Mona back to Iran.

Drawn from personal experiences, Iranian-Australian filmmaker Noora Niasari’s powerful debut feature is a beautifully crafted, poetic vérité portrayal of courage and compassion, anchored by a heart-rending performance by Zar Amir Ebrahimi (2022 Cannes’ best actress award winner for Holy Spider). Ebrahimi captures the vulnerability and confliction, but also the radiant soul of an Iranian woman who boldly reclaims her human rights: to divorce her husband, keep her child, and dress as she chooses.

Tension is skilfully sustained throughout and the drama has a pressurising effect, the air intensifying in a long, slow rise towards crescendo, Niasari never quite releasing the pressure valve and never taking the easy route. – The Guardian

In her first narrative feature, Niasari, who based the story in part on her own experiences, demonstrates an astounding control of pacing and mood. – New York Times

Made with a striking sensitivity to mood and moment, Shayda marks a strong debut for Iranian-Australian writer-director Noora Niasari, who mines her own experience and that of her mother for a gripping yet tender suspense drama. – Washington Post

A tug-of-war between hope and fear that gives Ebrahimi the platform to carve out a completely three-dimensional character. – RogerEbert.com

One of the most masterful debuts of a filmmaker that I’ve seen in a long time. – Film Week

The greatest asset of Shayda is its unmistakably feminine spirit of perseverance, one that runs wild and free in this promising debut. – Variety

97% Rotten Tomatoes

SHAYDA

Iran/Australia, 2023 | Language: Persian/English | 1 h 57 min | Cert: CLUB

Director: Noora Niasari

Cast: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Osamah Sami, Leah Purcell, Jillian Nguyen, Mojean Aria, Selina Zahednia, Rina Mousavi

Foreign language films are subtitled. 

Cert: CLUB for over 18s.

BOOKING

Tickets: €8.50/€7 concession

Cork Cine Club absorbs the cost of online booking fees.

Online booking closes at 6pm on the night of the film.

Pay at the door by card or cash. Exact change is appreciated.