In Noora Niasari’s starkly realistic and deeply compelling domestic thriller, there’s a young girl fixated on obtaining a Simba Happy Meal toy, a scheming father, and a mother surmounting difficulties to prepare traditional foods for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. This heavy tension of family dynamics comes alive amidst the anxious environment of community-based shopping. The resonant detailing of the film is a testament to its basis on the true experiences of the director during her childhood.
The semi-autobiographical movie, Shayda, unfolds the story of an Iranian-Australian immigrant, painted with an excellent portrayal by Holy Spider’s Zar Amir Ebrahimi. Shayda takes shelter in a refuge centre in Brisbane from her abusive spouse, Hossein (Osamah Sami), a medical scholar on the brink of graduation who plans to return to his homeland where a divorce would ensure his sole custody of their daughter, Mona (Selina Zahednia).
Again and again, Shayda is seen rehearsing an emergency plan with her daughter, Mona, in fear of Hossein whisking her away. However, when Hossein finally shows up, he claims to have changed but his tardiness and offhand comments about Shayda’s appearance act as harbingers of impending trouble. His troubling behaviour of recording his wife, with no concern for her comfort, bursts any popular thought about his reformation.
The refuge den mother, Joyce (Leah Purcell), brings a sense of safety, and the relief provided by the girls’ dance-offs to Iranian pop music are a respite from the prevalent unease. But the shelter is still viewed as a fraught place. The film’s cinematographer, Sherwin Akbarzadeh, masterfully amplifies this feeling, hinting at how any parked vehicle in the vicinity could potentially be a source of danger.
Shayda faces criticism from her family and admonishment from her mother via phone calls. Despite this, she takes faltering steps towards rebuilding her life.
Positive advancements, such as potential amorous interest from Farhad (portrayed by Mojean Aria), or a gathering with mates, are constantly undone by the rising hostility of her former spouse. As a writer, producer, and director, Niasari successfully amplifies the suspense to equal the level of his psychopathy in this confident first feature. The movie ‘Shayda’ is set for limited release in theatres starting from Friday, the 2nd of August.