Watch Women Without Men

Women Without Men is a visually stunning drama film released in 2009, directed by the renowned Iranian artist, Shirin Neshat. The film is based on a novel by Shahrnush Parsipur, and it follows the story of four Iranian women during the summer of 1953, a time of immense political turbulence in Iran. The lead roles are played by Shabnam Toloui, Pegah Ferydoni, Arita Shahrzad, and Orsolya Tóth.

The film primarily focuses on the lives of four women, all of whom are in some way or the other unhappy with their lives. Munis (Shabnam Toloui) is a political activist who is onto the run from the oppressive regime authorities, Zarin (Orsolya Tóth) is a prostitute who is desperate to break free from her life and start anew, Faezeh (Pegah Ferydoni) is a young woman who is caught between her natural desires and societal expectations, and Fakhri (Arita Shahrzad) is an older woman who feels isolated and unloved. These four women come together at a secluded orchard and grow an intense bond of friendship, supporting each other through their struggles and guiding each other towards a better life.

What's most striking about the film is the way in which Shirin Neshat has used imagery to convey the story. The beauty of the film lies not only in the visual aesthetics but also in the symbolic portrayal of the characters and their emotions. The orchard that these women come to is visually stunning, with trees that are laden with fruit and flowers, creating a visual paradise in which the women find peace and solace. However, there is also an undercurrent of danger and instability, which hints at the political chaos that was taking place in Iran at the time.

Throughout the movie, we see the various norms of Iranian society that were so restrictive for women at that time. Among those norms were the arranged marriage system, the strict dress code that women had to follow, and the taboo surrounding unfulfilled desires. Through the portrayal of these thematic elements, Shirin Neshat has managed to highlight the emotional turmoil that the women were going through, and how these oppressive social norms were preventing them from living their lives fully.

Another aspect that stands out in the movie is the use of sound. Right from the beginning, the music and sound are used to create an atmosphere of tension, fear, and social unrest, which sets the tone for the movie. The background score, composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Mohammad Reza Darvishi, captures the essence and emotions of the characters beautifully, and adds depth to the overall experience of the movie.

A notable aspect of the film is the cinematography, which is astonishingly beautiful. The camera work is both lavish and subjective. The slow-motion scenes of the blossoming flowers and fruit during the movie's opening scenes are exquisitely captured, setting the tone for what is to come. The camera movements and angles are carefully crafted to enhance the emotional impact of the story.

As the women in the story find their own ways to cope with their circumstances, and as each of them seeks to overcome their problems, they choose different ways to cope with their scenarios. Munis runs away from the oppressive regime, Faezeh decides to make her own life choices regardless of society norms, Zarin stops prostituting, and Fakhri finds solace in her own death. Each character progresses and deals with the challenges in her way, and as the story progresses, we see them gaining more control over their lives and the choices they make.

In conclusion, Women Without Men is a visually stunning and emotionally charged film that brilliantly captures the essence of an era in Iranian history that is not discussed enough. The imagery, cinematography, and music, combined with a compelling storyline, make the movie an all-encompassing, thought-provoking experience that is hard to forget. Shirin Neshat's direction is brilliant, and the performances from the lead actresses are exemplary. If you are looking for a unique cinematic experience that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating, then Women Without Men is a must-watch.

Women Without Men is a 2009 art house & international movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 68.