Watch Starless Dreams

Starless Dreams is a powerful portrait of a group of Iranian girls who live in a correctional facility in Tehran. Shot entirely in black and white, this 2016 documentary is a moving exploration of the lives of young women who have been forgotten by society. Directed by Mehrdad Oskouei, Starless Dreams offers a rare glimpse into a world that is often hidden from view, giving voice to those who are rarely heard.

The film follows the lives of a number of girls, each with their own story to tell. We meet Leila, who was abandoned by her parents and left to fend for herself on the streets of Tehran. We also meet Negin, who was convicted of a violent crime and sent to the facility as punishment. As we watch their daily lives unfold, we get a sense of the sheer boredom and frustration that comes with living behind bars. These girls are denied the simple pleasures of life – no music, no dancing, no laughter. They are confined to their cells for most of the day, and their only outlets for expression are the occasional art class or therapy session.

Despite the bleakness of their circumstances, the girls are remarkably resilient. They find ways to create their own communities within the facility, forming friendships and alliances with one another. They support each other through the challenges they face, whether it be dealing with difficult staff members or reconciling with estranged family members. They also find comfort in their shared experiences – they all understand what it feels like to be locked up and forgotten.

As we learn more about the girls and their backgrounds, we begin to understand why they ended up in the facility in the first place. Most of them come from broken homes or have experienced some form of trauma. They are victims of a society that has failed them – a society that doesn't provide them with the resources or support they need to thrive. Starless Dreams is a poignant meditation on poverty, inequality, and the harsh realities faced by disadvantaged youth.

The film is shot with a sense of intimacy and compassion that is rare in documentaries about incarcerated youth. Oskouei takes the time to listen to the girls and hear their stories, without ever judging them or trying to impose a narrative onto their lives. The result is a film that feels honest and raw, capturing the complexities of these girls' experiences without ever reducing them to caricatures or stereotypes.

One of the most moving aspects of Starless Dreams is the way it portrays the girls' relationship with their families. Many of the girls have been cut off from their loved ones, either because they are ashamed of their daughters' behavior or because they simply can't afford to visit them. The scenes in which the girls have reunions with their family members are some of the film's most emotional. We see the pain and the joy on their faces as they hug their mothers or siblings for the first time in months or even years. These scenes serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection and the devastation that results from its absence.

Overall, Starless Dreams is a poignant, heartbreaking film that sheds light on a rarely seen aspect of Iranian society. Through the eyes of the girls themselves, we see how poverty, trauma, and neglect can lead to a cycle of crime and incarceration. But we also see the humanity and resilience of these young women, their longing for a better life, and their hope for a brighter future. This film is a must-watch for anyone who cares about social justice, human dignity, and the power of storytelling to change hearts and minds.

Starless Dreams is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 85.