IDFA 2013
Sepideh - Reaching for the Stars
Berit Madsen
Denmark
2013
88 min
International Premiere
Sepideh is a young Iranian woman who dares to dream - of a future as an astronaut. At night, she stares up at the universe, and she is taking lessons from a space fanatic who teaches schoolchildren about astronomy. At home, full of hope and longing, she watches recordings of the world's first female astronaut, Anousheh Ansari. So it possible! When her father died suddenly six years ago, Sepideh discovered that she could feel closer to him by watching the stars. And so her dream was born, but not everyone appreciates her boundless ambition. After all, becoming an astronaut is not exactly a normal goal for a girl in Iran, particularly because there's no money to pay for university and beyond. Her mother and uncle are worried about the emancipated young woman. She doesn't want to learn to cook, hardly ever visits her family and doesn't seem to be thinking about marriage at all. We follow this brave young Iranian woman as she watches the stars, as well as at school, in the mosque and at home, where tensions steadily rise. As we follow Sepideh, it becomes clear just how at odds her dreams are with her current reality and the expectations of those around her. Fortunately, Sepideh is able to express all her thoughts, dreams and cares in the letters she writes to her hero, Albert Einstein.
Credits
Screening copy
Danish Film Institute
Danish Film Institute
World Sales
LevelK
LevelK
Director
Co-production
Flimmer Film AS,
Eight Millimetres AB,
Docdays Productions,
Sheherazad Media International
Flimmer Film AS,
Eight Millimetres AB,
Docdays Productions,
Sheherazad Media International
Cinematography
Editing
Involved TV Channel
DR,
SVT,
ZDF/ARTE,
ITVS (Corporation for Public Broadcasting)
DR,
SVT,
ZDF/ARTE,
ITVS (Corporation for Public Broadcasting)