Iranian actress Laleh Marzban is facing severe criticism from Iranian authorities and state media following her acceptance speech at the Venice film festival, where she highlighted the plight of women in Iran. The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution condemned her remarks as a "one-sided narrative" and criticized her for presenting stereotypes desired by Western circles.
The official backlash against Laleh Marzban highlights the Iranian government's sensitivity to international criticism regarding its treatment of women and its efforts to control narratives about the country. This reaction could impact the careers of artists who speak out and may signal a tightening of restrictions on expression within Iran.
Iranian actress Laleh Marzban has faced severe criticism from authorities and state media after her acceptance speech at the Venice film festival, where she spoke about the struggles of women in Iran. Marzban won the best newcomer award in the Orizzonti sidebar competition for her role in Mohsen Gharaei’s film 'Falling House'. In her speech, she dedicated the prize to "the women of my country who have paid the highest price for even the smallest measure of freedom," adding that Iranians were experiencing difficult times but should not lose hope.
On Thursday, Iran's Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution issued a statement denouncing Marzban's speech as presenting a "one-sided narrative of Iran’s proud society" and reducing Iranian women to "stereotypes desired by western circles." This followed similar attacks in state-affiliated Iranian media, with some outlets calling for disciplinary action against the actress. Journalist Zahra Chekhmaghi described Marzban as "two-faced, self-interested, hypocritical, despicable and miserable." Another media personality, Zhila Sadeghi, suggested Marzban should have dedicated her speech to children killed in a US missile strike. A Qu’ran expert on state TV suggested Marzban had been "deceived by the enemy" and called for her to be prevented from working in Iran, a sentiment echoed by the Student News Network (SNN), which urged the ministry of culture to deny her re-entry into the country.
'Falling House' explores the collapse of traditional patriarchal family structures in Iran. Marzban plays Ensi, a young woman who plans to leave the country, prompting her father, Rashid (Farhad Aslani), to lock her and other female family members in their rooms to assert his authority. Following the film's premiere, Marzban commented on the importance of incremental progress for women in Iran, stating, "I have made my small part. I have given my contribution. I really hope many other people can make small steps towards our common objective."