A Sisters' Tale

Film

Synopsis

Filmmaker Leila Amini’s sister Nasreen once filled their Tehran home with her beautiful voice. However, she stopped singing when pressured to marry Mohammad. Over the years, Nasreen dedicated herself to being an excellent wife and mother. Yet Mohammad primarily saw his role as working outside the home, leaving Nasreen longing for the simple joys and affections of married life.

When her youngest child was born, Nasreen became terrified that her only achievement in life would be being the mother of two children. She was determined to pursue her lifelong passion for singing, even though performing in public is forbidden for women in Iran.   

Mohammad’s absence and lack of support frustrated Nasreen, leading to many arguments. Her mother and sisters did their best to protect Nasreen’s marriage; they were concerned about her future. Over seven years of filming Nasreen, Leila closely witnessed her sister’s journey to free her voice as a singer and as a woman. From a vulnerable homemaker, she gradually transformed into a woman in control of her own destiny. Nasreen’s emancipation has inspired fundamental change for her children, her sisters, their mother, and, hopefully, for their country.

Credits

Director 
and Cinematographer

Leila Amini

Producers

Afsaneh Salari

Vadim Jendreyko

Leila Amini

Editors

Audrey Maurion

Leila Amini

Morteza Payeshenas

Original Score

Nasreen Amini

Sound Recording

Leila Amini

Patrick Becker

Sound Design and Edit Supervisor

Ensieh Maleki

Sound Mix

Dominik Avenwedde

Colorist

Patrischa Freuler

Co-Producer

Kaleo La Belle

Associate Producers

Christine Le Goff

Hercli Bundi

Susanne Guggenberger

Production Managers

Hamedreza Izadpanah

Sareh Amini

Line Producer and Back Office

Pascal Moor

A Production of

Mira Film

Docmaniacs

In Co-Production with

La Belle Film

Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen und SRF/SRG SSR

Commissioning Editors

Urs Augstburger, SRF

Sven Wälti, National Coordinator, SRG SSR

With the financial support of

Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Stadt and Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Landschaft

Fachausschuss Film und Medienkunst BS/BL

Zürcher Filmstiftung

Succès Passage Antenne, SRG SSR

Docs Up Fund

Distribution Switzerland

Vinca Film

World Sales

Rise and Shine

Technical Details

Format

DCP

Length

93min

Color

true

Year

2024

Original Language

Farsi

Subtitles

English

Country

Switzerland/France/Iran

ISAN

ISAN 0000-0006-FD87-0000-V-0000-0000-I