Runaway

Female directors Kim Longinotto and Ziba Mir-Hosseini, who previously collaborated on the memorable documentary Divorce Iranian Style, are back in Teheran. This time they are visiting a centre for girls who have ran away from home. Treating their heroines with a great deal of understanding and respect, the filmmakers enter their troublesome lives. The film crew obviously succeeded in gaining the full trust of the girls, because we see them opening up without being bothered by the presence of the camera. In spite of being raised by their family and society to obey and never talk back, these girls have found the courage to stand up for their freedom. By leaving their homes, they are trying to turn a new page in life. But what are their chances? As an official institution in Iranian society, this Centre also has to play according to the rules. Nevertheless, the charismatic and firm Mrs Shirazi, who runs the place, always finds a way to renegotiate the relationships between the parents and the runaways. Without being voyeuristic, the filmmakers follow certain cases from the moment the girls enter the Centre until the moment they go back home. The story told in between reveals the pain, humiliation and anger of Iranian girls harassed by their nearest and dearest