Sreemoyee Singh’s Documentary Unveils Iran’s Artistic Resistance

Film-maker Sreemoyee Singh premiered her documentary, And, Towards Happy Alleys, on October 16, 2023, in Chandigarh, India. The film provides a poignant exploration of Iran’s artistic landscape shaped by strict censorship. Through her lens, Singh not only documents the country but exposes a current of resistance and hope that flows through the stories of Iranian artists.

The screening, organized by The Thinkers Collective in collaboration with Kirrt Collective, featured Singh sharing insights from her six-year journey in Iran. “There is this indomitable spirit among Iranians, which is reflected in their movies too,” she remarked. “What I have captured in And, Towards Happy Alleys are the early stirrings of what would later grow into the 2022 Iranian revolution, led by women protesting against an oppressive regime.”

Singh’s fascination with Iranian cinema and the work of feminist poet Forough Farrokhzad inspired her to create this film as a personal travel diary. The documentary highlights her interactions with notable Iranian filmmakers and activists, including Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Shirvani, and human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.

Their narratives reveal the precarious existence faced by artists and critics under censorship, where threats of imprisonment and professional bans loom large. “It also documents how the Islamic Republic’s strict censorship shapes the lives of Iranian women,” Singh explained, noting their prominent role in current protests.

Singh, who holds a PhD on ‘The Exiled Filmmaker in Post-Revolution Iranian Cinema’, emphasized her unique position as the first non-Iranian filmmaker to produce a documentary in Iran after learning Farsi. “Being able to converse intimately with those I filmed allowed for a deeper connection,” she stated.

She reflected on the challenges of filming in a country where carrying a camera can be an act of rebellion. “Every frame demanded trust from them, but I was fortunate enough. Knowing their language bridged the cultural gap to a great extent and even granted me access to their underground music scene,” she added.

The documentary made its debut at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival before being showcased at various international film festivals including CPH:DOX in Denmark, Thessaloniki in Greece, DMZ Docs in South Korea, Jio MAMI in India, and Docpoint Helsinki in Finland.

Singh describes And, Towards Happy Alleys as a love letter to Iranian art and a reflection of courage amidst constraints. Through her work, she aims to shed light on the resilience of Iranian artists who continue to express their creativity despite the challenges imposed by their government.