Being an activist in Iran is understandably a calling that can isolate a person but they still get supporters. There are enough of those supporters, like the ones viewers can see in Seven Days, to create a network. The film’s protagonist, Maryam, has no idea that that network is trying to smuggle her out of the country. Part of that network is her brother Nima (Sina Parvaneh). There’s also Bita (The Empress‘ Meilka Foroutan), her childhood friend, both having tea during one of their tense pit stops.
Escaping from prison during her titular seven day furlough isn’t all tea parties, a perilous journey through snowy mountains. Being with her family sounds tempting but she still wants to stay in Iran. It takes a while for Maryam’s decisions to make sense but Seven Days thankfully shows those gears running inside her head. Also, let’s back up a bit as I let people know that I am way too dumb for this. The average person would probably fumble their escape from prison, and there are moments where Maryam is like that.
Several scenes show her thinking twice as she listens to what her smugglers tell her to do which, understandable. As Seven Days captures Maryam thinking twice, I imagine viewers doing the same but for a few different reasons. Nonetheless, scene here remind viewers off how Iran’s theocracy stops women from self-expression. That theocracy is destroying families, which highlights just why Maryam’s struggle is one that women like her must take.
- Rated: NR
- Genre: Drama
- Release Date: 9/7/2024
- Directed by: Ali Samadi Ahadi
- Starring: Majid Bakhtiari, Sina Parvaneh, Vishka Asayesh
- Produced by: Armin Hofmann Ali, Samadi Ahadi
- Written by: Mohammad Rasoulof
- Studio: brave new work GmbH
