Leyla's Brothers focuses on 40-year-old Leyla's struggle to keep her family afloat. Leyla, who has done nothing but care for her mother and father, and four adult brothers her entire life, makes a plan to rescue her family from the economic plight they have fallen into. However, her father, Ismail, disregarding his family's future, is after becoming a "tribe leader" in a traditional hierarchical order. The film scrutinizes this intergenerational conflict and individual sacrifices.
Leyla's Father and Brother. (Beyazperde)
Cast
- Taraneh Alidoosti - Leyla
- Saeed Poursamimi - İsmail
- Navid Mohammadzadeh - Alirıza
- Payman Maadi - Farhad
- Farhad Aslani - Manouçer
- Mohammad Ali Mohammadi - Parviz
Leyla's Family (Beyazperde)
Themes
Patriarchy and the Place of Women in Society
The film explores the patriarchal structure in Iranian society and its oppression of women through the character of Leyla. While Leyla struggles to keep her family afloat in a male-dominated world, characters like her father, Ismail, represent traditional male dominance. In the film, Leyla's mother is not even mentioned by name, and this situation emphasizes the depersonalization of women in society.
Economic Crisis and Societal Transformations
The film highlights the embargo imposed by the US on Iran and its effects on the people. Due to economic hardships, Leyla and her brothers fight for survival, while their father is solely after gaining status. This theme critiques a system that disregards the living conditions of individuals and families.
Leyla's Brothers Trailer (YouTube)
Intergenerational Conflict
Portraying a family stuck between tradition and modernity, the film sharply reveals the differences in thought between old and new generations. Ismail's desire to acquire a traditional title, without considering his family's future, exposes the generational dilemma.
Family Ties and Individuality
Leyla, as a character trying to keep her family together, represents the conflict between individual interests and family ties. This situation is a universal narrative of individuals being caught between living their own lives and their responsibilities to their families.
Leyla. (Beyazperde)
Cinematic Elements
Roustaee maintains a tense atmosphere throughout the film, bringing the audience closer to the characters' inner worlds. Scenes where poverty and wealth are shown side-by-side strikingly highlight Iran's economic and social stratification. The use of locations such as shopping malls and lavish weddings emphasizes the deep chasm between wealth and poverty.
Director of the Film, Saeed Roustayi. (Mubi)
Director and His Life
Saeed Roustayi, an Iranian film director and screenwriter, was born on August 14, 1989, in Tehran. A graduate of Film and Television from Soore University, Roustayi began his cinematic career with numerous short films and documentaries. His first major work, Life+1 Day, won him Crystal Simorgh awards for best director and best screenplay at the Fajr International Film Festival. He expanded his international success with his subsequent film, 6.5 Metres. His 2022 film, Leyla's Brothers, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI award. Roustayi's cinematic language deeply explores social injustices, economic crises, and the place of women in Iranian society.
Leyla's Brothers stands out as a profound film built on family values, individual struggles, and societal pressures. Saeed Roustayi's masterfully crafted narrative offers sharp observations on social injustice, while also succeeding in telling a universal story. With its success at the Cannes Film Festival and positive feedback from international critics, it takes its place as a striking example of modern Iranian cinema.
