Pouran Derakhshandeh’s movie ‘Hush, Girls Don’t Scream’ was shown at the department of women’s studies at Berkeley University, California. The movie received a positive feedback from the audience. The sobering motion picture, which tackles a sensitive social issue -pedophilia, won the audience award at 2013 Fajr Film Festival, as well as top prize at the London Iranian Film Festival the same year. It last premiered at the 10th Eurasia International Film Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
In an interview with Shargh newspaper, Derakhshandeh said her movie was nominated to be featured in several prestigious universities in the US in order to be discussed among students. The movie was shown on September 18 with an introduction of Derakhshandeh’s career. In the end, Derakhshandeh answered some questions from the viewers.
Derakhshandeh said the reception among the audience was so good that there were not enough seats for everyone - something that was surprising for the audience themselves. The audience was from several countries, including Sweden, Turkey, India and Arab nations - who gave voice to their concerns after watching the film.
Social Issues
The subject of the movie resonated with many in the audience. As Derakhshandeh puts it, child abuse, rape and pedophilia are issues that many societies are dealing with and despite the laws such forms of violence still continue to occur.
She said some in the audience believed that artists have a responsibility to raise awareness in such a way that everyone feels compelled to act. Derakhshandeh was hailed for producing the film. Upon returning to Iran, her fist plan is to start work on her new movie.
As an Iranian film director, producer, screen writer, and researcher, Derakhshandeh has participated in a number of local and international film festivals and has won several awards. In her movies, she usually focuses on social issues.
