“Seven Days” is a gripping and emotionally charged drama that is guaranteed to resonate differently with viewers who have children versus those who do not, and it’s a film where your personal perspective and experiences with parenthood will influence how you view the story and characters. Director Ali Samadi Ahadi thrusts you right into the story of an imprisoned activist who must choose between escaping and returning to her husband and children or continuing her battle for democracy by remaining captive in an Iranian prison. It’s a compelling journey of a forceful and headstrong woman that explores both personal and political struggles through a brutally honest lens.
Maryam (Vishka Asayesh), a human rights activist who has been imprisoned for six years in Iran, has been granted a rare seven day medical leave. Thanks to a plan orchestrated by her husband (Majid Bakhtiari), brother (Sina Parvaneh), and a network of smugglers, this week becomes an opportunity for her to escape to freedom. The film follows Maryam’s life-or-death journey as she navigates dangerous terrain, both literal and emotional, in her quest to reunite with her family.
What makes the film so compelling is the complexity of its central character. Maryam’s journey is not just one of physical escape but also a battle within herself, torn between the desire to be with her family and her unwavering dedication to the cause of democracy and equality in Iran. The film doesn’t shy away from the agonizing decisions that people like Maryam must face as she weighs her personal desires against the larger, more abstract fight for justice. It’s the type of dilemma that will get people talking, as there’s truly no 100% correct decision in this situation.
It’s easy to quickly become wholly invested in Maryam’s journey thanks to a stunning and nuanced lead performance from the extremely talented Asayesh. She creates a character full of quiet strength, conveying an inner conflict and determination with her ability to communicate through gestures and facial expressions. You can tell what her character is thinking in the moment, and all of it adds to the overall intensity that builds quietly but relentlessly throughout the story.
The pacing of the film and its use of tension serves the first half of the story quite well, especially as Maryam is passed along from one smuggler to the next. Ahadi, aided by the excellent, sophisticated screenplay by Mohammad Rasoulof, captures this sense of danger and amplifies the isolation, bravery, and fear that mirrors the character’s feelings. The last half of the film turns into a highly compelling family drama that’s equally intense, and the stakes become as much about the survival of Maryam’s household as they are about her political ideals. This is a different kind of story about motherhood, one that explores the costs of activism and raises difficult questions about what one is willing to sacrifice for a cause. It’s not a story with easy answers, and its ending leaves plenty of room for reflection and debate.
Rooted in themes of motherhood, sacrifice, and the fight for human rights, “Seven Days” is not only an impeccably crafted film, but it’s a gripping testament to the enduring strength of those who fight for a better world.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 