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In 1992 a young Iranian student hanged himself on the outskirts of a small Ontario town. Having escaped the Ayatollah's regime and found a new home in Canada, he could not escape his past. In this film, Masoud Raouf documents the experiences of Iranian-Canadians - former political prisoners like himself - who were active in the Iranian democratic movement and continue to struggle with the past.

For more background information about this film, please visit the NFB.ca blog.
Albert Ohayon

Albert Ohayon

Beyond the headlines of political unrest in Iran, this film focuses on several people who were imprisoned and tortured by the government there simply for their beliefs. Director Masoud Raouf points a very intimate portrait of these people who, having escaped to Canada, now have to deal with apathy from their adopted country. Some of the stories are heart wrenching, but throughout we see just how strong the human spirit really is.


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Grade 10 - 12

Civics/Citizenship / Human Rights

History and Citizenship Education / Official Powers and Countervailing Powers (1608-present)

Educational purpose:

Discuss with class the kind of will power it would take to survive such imprisonment. What do students think about the survivors being interviewed? Have students research other world events in which people have been held as political prisoners. Students will notice pieces of art throughout the documentary. Get the book We Lived to Tell by Azadeh Agah, Sousan Mehr and Shadi Parsi. Read excerpts from women who were political prisoners about what they endured and how they survived. This film deals with mature subject matter.


 

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