You are here:

Shayda

Name: Shayda
Director: Noora Niasari
Released: 2023
Duration: 118 min

Representation Score

6.8/10

Good

2023

Director

Noora Niasari

Runtime

118 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film centers a underrepresented protagonist with a rich Iranian diaspora experience. It avoids including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth by focusing on the complexities of immigrant life. The narrative challenges traditional power structures, gender roles, and cultural norms. While it excels in racial and gender representation, it lacks explicit LGBTQ+ narratives. However, its critique of patriarchal structures supports its social commentary.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Shayda have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't prominently feature LGBTQ+ identities or non-binary gender expressions. It focuses on critiquing patriarchal control and gendered survival.

How does Shayda portray gender?

Excellent

Shayda is a strong character who challenges traditional gender roles. The film shows masculine authority as unstable and coercive.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Shayda?

Excellent

The film effectively portrays the Iranian diaspora without an Anglo-Saxon perspective. Displacement and cultural heritage are key to the protagonist's identity.

How does Shayda represent religion and culture?

Excellent

It explores the tension between individual identity and Western institutions. The film highlights the dismantling of oppressive patriarchal norms for personal freedom.

Does Shayda include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities as central narrative elements.

Present on Screen

Exceptional portrayal of the Iranian diaspora and the immigrant experience
Strong female character who challenges traditional gender hierarchies
In-depth look at the tension between individual identity and Western institutions

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-binary gender expressions
No prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities

Official Synopsis

Shayda, a young Iranian woman living in Australia, finds refuge in a women’s shelter with her 6-year-old daughter, Mona. Having fled her husband, Hossein, and filed for divorce, Shayda struggles to maintain normalcy for Mona. Buoyed by the approach of Nowruz, she tries to forge a fresh start with new and unfettered freedoms. But when a judge grants Hossein visitation rights, he reenters their life, stoking Shayda’s fear that he’ll attempt to take Mona back to Iran.

How are these scores produced? →