Mahnaz Mohammadi's Film 'Roya' Premieres at Berlin Festival, Highlights Iranian Teacher's Imprisonment
Mahnaz Mohammadi's film 'Roya' is set to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film tells the story of an Iranian teacher, Roya, who is imprisoned for her political beliefs and faces the dilemma of making a forced televised confession or remaining in solitary confinement. The film, starring Turkish actress Melisa Sözen, was shot clandestinely due to Mohammadi's restrictions from the Iranian government. Mohammadi, who has faced persecution and imprisonment for her activism and filmmaking, draws from her own experiences to depict the harsh realities of political suppression. The film explores themes of memory, suppression, and trauma, using a non-linear narrative to reflect the fragmented nature of unconsciousness.