Iranian filmmaker Saeed Roustaee returned to the Cannes Film Festival in 2025 with Woman and Child (Zan o Bacheh), a searing drama that delves into the complexities of motherhood, grief, and societal expectations in contemporary Iran. Marking his fourth feature film, Roustaee continues his exploration of familial and societal dynamics following his numerous acclaimed works.
The film centers on Mahnaz, a 45-year-old widowed nurse raising her two children alone. As she prepares to marry her fiancé, Hamid, Mahnaz faces mounting pressures from societal norms and familial obligations. The situation escalates when her teenage son, Aliyar, is expelled from school, leading to a tragic accident that upends their lives. Mahnaz's journey becomes one of seeking justice and navigating the intricate web of patriarchal expectations that dictate her reality.
Roustaee's narrative delves into the dichotomy between public appearance and private truth, a prevalent theme in Iranian society. The film examines how individuals, particularly women, often conceal their struggles to conform to societal expectations. Mahnaz's character embodies this tension, as she grapples with the desire for personal happiness while adhering to cultural norms. Roustaee articulates this in an interview, stating, "It's a woman who, at a given moment, is prepared to accept a certain number of requests that are not to her personal liking... But then... she creates her own path, becomes an active agent of change."
Given the stringent regulations governing Iranian cinema, Roustaee approached the film's production with caution. He ensured compliance with state mandates, such as the depiction of women wearing the hijab, to secure the necessary permits for filming. Despite these constraints, Roustaee emphasized that Woman and Child is not a propaganda piece but a narrative of social resistance.