Please Step Aside!
A journey into the mind of a woman recently immigrated from Tehran to Berlin, over the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising.
Technical Information
- Original TitleZurückbleiben bitte!
- English TitlePlease Step Aside!
- Persian Titleلطفاً عقب بمانید!
- Year of Completion2024
- Runtime 12 min.
- Language Persian
- Subtitle English
- Countries Of Production Germany, Iran
- Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Shooting Format Digital
- Colour Color / Black and White
- Format DCP
- Sound 5.1, stereo
- Premiere Status World Premiere at IDFA (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)
Synopsis
"Zurückbleiben bitte!" is a melancholic yet humorous experimental short film. A journey into the chaotic mind of a woman recently immigrated to Berlin. A stream of consciousness resulted from an unexpected incident in her homeland Iran. A description of her current physical surroundings in contrast with her virtual mobile world, which is buzzing with the news of widespread "Woman Life Freedom" uprising. The film blends time and space, offering the relative nature of freedom and happiness. The whole film was made using a mobile phone.
Logline
Filmmaker Raha Faridi reflects on her migration from Tehran to Berlin in an experimental stream of consciousness, contrasting her new physical surroundings with a virtual world buzzing with news of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising in Iran.
Crew Information
- Director, Editor, Cinematographer Raha Faridi
- Production Raha Faridi (Raha Films)
- Sound Design AHGH
- Color Grading Farhad
- Music Amadeo Bonaiuto, Behrooz Moosavi
- Narration & Narrator Raha Faridi
Director Statement
In Berlin, amidst the new atmosphere, language, and climate, I navigated apartment hunting and processed the life-altering events of the past year. "Zurückbleiben bitte!" was the first thing I heard on my arrival in Berlin. "Please Step Aside!", which became the name of my first short film in Germany. A written stream of consciousness served as the narration of the film without any changes. The film pictures my current physical surroundings in contrast with my virtual mobile world, which was buzzing with the news of widespread "Woman Life Freedom" uprising. – a movement resulting from decades of resilience of women like myself in Iran. The film doesn't aim to bring political activism into the unconscious realm of art; it avoids slogans and any ideological or political statements. It's not trying to impress festivals or venues, nor does it exploit "Woman Life Freedom" for business in the film industry. Additionally, it doesn't rely on common elements of Iranian cinema to appeal to Western audiences. This film is simply an honest expression of the contradictory social and emotional states experienced by a woman. With the hope that it connects with Its audience.
Director Biography
Raha Faridi (born 1980) is an experimental artist, filmmaker, radio producer, and storyteller. Her work spans anthropology, music, gender equality, arts and culture since 2000. For over a decade, she uncovered Iran's underground music scene at BBC-World service Radio. In 2009, she ventured across Iran, creating independent documentaries. In 2022, she began working as a freelance artist in Berlin. Her interdisciplinary work explores urban and intellectual themes with a serious yet playful manner.