A+DFF: The New Museum
$11.50
Dir. Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni
2025, USA, 95 min
Azerbaijani, Arabic, Farsi, and Turkish with English subtitles
Rated PG
Sara Shahverdi — a divorced, motorcycle-riding former midwife — is an unlikely leader in her
conservative northwestern Iranian village. As the first woman ever elected to the local council,
she’s determined to break the cycle of empty promises and complacency passed down by the
men who came before her.
Fierce and unapologetic, Sara pushes for bold reforms, fighting her most difficult battles on behalf of the village’s girls and women. From teaching teenage girls to ride motorcycles to
challenging child marriage to advocating for female land ownership, she openly defies
patriarchal norms. But when her efforts spark backlash and accusations about her motives, Sara
must confront not only her critics — but also her own sense of identity.
