UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema ’25: A Move (short)

Viewers can tell this short documentary will be serious, because it is dedicated to the memory of Mahsa Amini, whose suspicious death while in the custody of Iran’s morality police ignited the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protest movement. However, the events filmmaker Elahe Esmaili captures might seem important to her family, but not inherently dramatic, until viewers understand her intention to participate in all said functions without the state-mandated hijab head-covering throughout the course of Esmaili’s A Move, which screens today as part of this year’s UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema.

Frankly, Esmaili’s parents can hardly complain, because she is taking time off to help them move from the big city of Mashhad to the countryside. Clearly, Esmaili is hoping for a case of out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new, in several respects. Yet, just as her mother clings to her old junk, the senior family members cling to their old-fashioned social customs and fears.

The clash of generations really comes to a head when Esmaili refuse any head-covering while visiting a supposedly conservative uncle in the mountains. Her mother expects shame and disgrace, but somehow, the grizzled old uncle takes it all in stride.

Indeed, Esmaili questions just how widely the regime’s hardline ideology are really shared among regular folks. Regardless, Esmaili has clearly resolved to stop participating in her own oppression. She is not argumentative, but she is firm—if anyone expects her to cover up, then the men need to lead by example.

Although Esmaili never experiences violence from the morals police, there are potential consequences to her seemingly small act of rebellion. Yet, as she keeps telling her sisters and cousins, they must start somewhere. Indeed, in some ways A Move is a microcosm for Iranian society. Sadly, but tellingly, that also means many crew-members are credited anonymously.

A Move only runs for about half an hour, but it is highly revealing. There are a lot of smart, modern women in Iran who are tired of the regime’s hypocrisy and control (like Esmaili)—and a lot of men who agree with them. (Furthermore, they do not want their government sponsoring terrorism or abetting destabilizing wars any more than we do, so hopefully current events can finally spur real regime change.) The candor and intimate perspective of Esmaili’s film proves how many Iranians are much more like us than their oppressive government, so they really deserve to finally experience freedom. Enthusiastically recommended, A Move screens today (6/14) as part of UCLA’s Celebration of Iranian Cinema.