Cast Aside the Clouds: Being Baha’i in Iran

Dr. Sasan Naderi’s sister Mina participates in Woman Life Freedom demonstrations. That is risky, even for a devout Muslim.  His potential new girlfriend, Layla Khosravi, is Baha’i. For the Islamist establishment, represented by his Uncle Reza, that is unforgivable. Of course, Dr. Naderi never really thought about the oppression of Baha’is until he falls in love Khosravi in Mary Darling’s Cast Aside the Clouds, co-directed by Bre Vader and Felicia Sobhani, which is now playing in Los Angeles.

Khosravi is smart and cultured, despite the current (unchanged) regime’s best efforts. In Iran, Baha’is are prohibited from attending universities, thereby limiting their employment opportunities. She had been working in her father’s bookstore, until an anti-Baha’i thug throws a brick through the store window, striking Khosravi’s temple.

Of course, she receives conscientious care from Dr. Naderi, who just doesn’t get how or why something like this could happen. Later, he visits her store, despite his cluelessness regarding Baha’i discrimination and repression. He is obviously attracted to Khosravi—and the more he learns about her faith, the more he accepts and even admires it. Not surprisingly, his progressive sister adores Khosravi, but their fundamentalist uncle believes he knows better, so he uses his Basij connections to save “Naderi” from Khosravi.

Admittedly, most of Cast Aside the Clouds was filmed in English, to which shallow pedants might object (even though it quotes Persian verse at great length). However, they should understand Darling and co-screenwriter Clark Donnelly are Baha’i converts and all their significant cast-members share a common Persian heritage, despite their various nationalities. The simple reality is that a film like this cannot be produced or released in Iran, so it probably makes sense to assure its accessibility to the American (and international) market.

Indeed, the pseudo-Romeo & Juliet story is easy for viewers to identify with, regardless of their prior knowledge of religious persecution in Iran. Naderi’s courtship of Khosravi is entirely credible and their respective family dynamics are believable and highly relatable. Indeed, that makes Khosravi’s arrest and torture so disturbing. These are hard scenes to watch, but they are important, because they are rendered with authenticity and conviction. It is clear these sequences are directly informed by survivors’ testimony.

Parmiss Sehat truly demands attention for her charismatic and ultimately harrowing performance as Khosravi. Even the most cynical viewers will be impressed. While Behtash Fazlali’s portrayal of Dr. Naderi is more reserved and understated, he powerfully conveys many of the film’s most important themes. Likewise, Anthony Azizi and Shirin Youssefian Maanian are absolutely heartbreaking as Khosravi’s anguished parents.

Despite the pain they endure, Khosravi and her family still try to express the forgiveness of their faith, which is often quite moving. However, those of us who do not share their faith, should never forgive the Islamic Revolutionary regime for its oppressive cruelty. Regardless of so-called “deals,” they need to go, for the sake of the Iranian people. This film is a timely reminder of the harsh realities of life for everyday Iranians and especially the persecuted Baha’i minority. Very highly recommended for its sensitive yet uncompromising drama and its timeliness, Cast Aside the Clouds is now playing in LA at the Lumiere Cinema and it opens Thursday (6/25) at the DC Angelika Film Center.