電影《家庭環境》呈現伊朗同志酸甜苦辣

Actresses Nikohl Boosheri and Sarah Kazemy are shown in scenes from the film Circumstance in these two handouts released to Reuters last Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

這兩張上週三提供給路透的照片，是電影《家庭環境》（暫譯）演員妮可哈爾‧波舍里（左）與沙拉‧卡澤米在劇中的場景。照片：路透

電影《家庭環境》　呈現伊朗同志酸甜苦辣

伊朗裔美籍導演瑪麗亞姆‧凱莎瓦爾茲知道她拍攝《家庭環境》（暫譯）後，就可能永難再度回到她的祖國。儘管如此，但這並未阻擋她拍攝這個故事決心。

這部影片講述伊朗一對正值青春期的女孩墜入愛河的故事。但是她們其中一位的哥哥，夥同宗教警察及不願承認同志存在的政府，讓他們面臨重重阻礙。該片於今年日舞影展首映頗獲好評後，上週五在美國戲院上映。

凱莎瓦爾茲告訴路透說：「在伊朗與其他回教世界，我鮮少看到有涉及任何一點女性情慾的電影。」他說：「就像對此片感到不舒服的人數，另有一樣多的人內心似乎表達：『終於有些我們的東西了。』」

這部片的劇情與人物皆為虛構，但身兼該片編劇與導演的凱莎瓦爾茲說，該片是根據她周遭朋友的真實經驗而拍攝的。

《家庭環境》主角阿塔法與希瑞恩，成長背景就像許多德黑蘭年輕女性一般。正值青春年少的她們，夢想有一個冒險、藝術與文化的人生。她們購買國外DVD，聆賞西方音樂、到地下舞廳跳舞，並且渴望能翹家。直到有一天，她們愛上了彼此。

但是在她們如火如荼展開的戀情之間，存在一個永難接受她們的社會羈絆。這個社會，即阿塔法的哥哥的一個體現，他曾與她們站在同一陣線，但經由藥物「勒戒所」的洗腦，他返家後，變得更為保守與偏執。

女同志議題並非《家庭環境》唯一具爭議性的觀點。該片違反了許多伊朗以及其他回教世界所常見的電影實務規範。

凱莎瓦爾茲說：「該片並未遵守伊朗電影規定女性必須戴上頭巾的規範。」她說：「我們甚至在片中，有性愛及裸露的場景。」

《家庭環境》在今年日舞影展上贏得最佳觀眾獎，它也在今年舉辦的許多同志及非同志電影節中獲獎。《家庭環境》目前面臨的新考驗─美國觀眾與票房。但此考驗與祖國的相比，可說是小巫見大巫。若有這麼一天的話，最大的障礙將會是，何時能登上德黑蘭的大螢幕。

（路透／翻譯：林亞蒂）

Circumstance sheds light on gay life in Iran

After Iranian-American filmmaker Maryam Keshavarz made Circumstance, she knew she might never be able to return to her homeland again, but that has not stopped her from telling the story.

The film, which began playing in US theaters last Friday after a strong debut at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, tells of two Iranian teenage girls who fall in love. But they face interference from a brother who joins the religious police and a government that refuses to acknowledge gay people exist.

“I’ve seen very few films that address women’s sexuality — in Iran, in the Muslim world, at all,” Keshavarz told Reuters. “As much as some people are upset about the film, there are other people who are like, ‘Finally! Something that’s us!’”

The story and characters are fictional but Keshavarz, who wrote and directed the film, said they are based on real-life experiences among her friends.

The key characters in Circumstance, Atafeh and Shireen, have grown up like many young women in Tehran. As teens, they dream of a life of adventure, art and culture. They buy foreign DVDs, listen to western music, dance at underground clubs and dream of running away. Eventually, they fall for each other.

But standing between them is a society that will not accept who they are rapidly becoming. That society is embodied in Atafeh’s older brother, who was once like them but has returned home from drug “rehab” a more conservative and intolerant man.

The lesbian subject matter is not the only controversial aspect of Circumstance. The film violates many cinematic practices common in Iran and other parts of the Muslim world.

“It didn’t adhere to the rules of Iranian cinema, where women have to have their hair covered,” Keshavarz said. “We even have sex scenes and nudity in the film.”

Circumstance earned the Audience Award at Sundance, as well as several other honors at gay and straight film festivals throughout 2011. Now Circumstance faces a new test — US audiences and box offices. But even that may not be its biggest challenge. The major hurdle will be when, if ever, it debuts in Tehran.