Iran/France/Germany/Switzerland/Luxembourg/Lebanon | 2019 | Massoud Bakhshi

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, this startling drama is inspired by an actual Iranian reality television show. Set on the night of Yalda (the Persian celebration of the winter solstice), the film introduces us to Maryam, a young woman facing the death penalty for having murdered her much older husband. Maryam must plead for her life with her late husband’s grown daughter (and millions of viewers at home), convincing them that she is worthy of forgiveness and mercy. “A clever, suspenseful exposé of Sharia law.” –Hollywood Reporter. Cleveland premiere. Subtitles. 89 min.

Yalda, a Night for Forgiveness, a Cinematheque streaming exclusive, can be viewed online from 12/11 thru 1/14 via the link below. Doing so supports the Cinematheque. Screening fee is $12, and after opening the film, you have 72 hours to watch it. 

https://watch.eventive.org/yalda/play/5fce8dbb3257c21303cc3d21