TEHRAN-The Iranian documentary “Destiny” directed by Yaser Talebi has won the Best Foreign Film Award at the 9th Peloponnese International Documentary Festival in Greece.

According to the festival announcement on November 9, “it is a moving film that tenderly invites us into the close relationship between a young girl and her disabled father. The narration of each daily movement is transformed into a sign of love and the inner beauty of the two protagonists is seen even in their choices in life, towards each other, full of wisdom”.

The 71-minute documentary depicts the life of 18-year-old Sahar, who after the death of her mother, is left in charge of her poor, mentally disabled father in an isolated village in Iran.  She dreams of going to university and becoming a doctor, but must play the role of caretaker unless her father remarries, ILNA reported.

The 2022 production is a warm and intimate observational portrait, letting the people and emotions reveal themselves. A thicket of relationships and expectations are at work here involving family, friends, religion, social expectations, and social media. It is a window on contemporary Iran, which captures a young woman caught between traditional gender roles and her desire for self-determination.

the 9th Peloponnese International Documentary Festival was held from October 25 to November 5, in 10 cities of Greece. A total of 26 documentary films took part in this year’s edition of the festival.

This year's focus on “equality" emphasized the highlighting of social and individual inequalities, as well as the portrayal of personalities who, despite adversity, maintain their integrity. The aim of this feature was to raise public awareness of the need to recognize diversity, understand challenges, and the importance of justice and the eradication of violence.

SS/