Secretly filmed personal portrait of Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh. The fact that she is currently in prison for standing up for human and women’s rights, makes this documentary all the more urgent. A must-see masterclass in courage and optimism.
Ever since Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi encouraged her to get her law degree, Nasrin Sotoudeh has worked for the rights of women, children, religious minorities and many others whose rights are crushed under the Iranian Islamic laws. Nasrin paints a portrait of her work and life, up until her second imprisonment in 2018, and of the broader Iranian women’s rights movement. And when the attention turns to Nasrin’s husband Reza and their two children, it becomes a full-blown love story.
Nasrin Sotoudeh is an impressively determined woman, whose optimism and calm fighting spirit are awe-inspiring. We see her at work for outlawed film director Jafar Panahi, in whose illegally made Taxi she starred in 2015. And for Narges Hosseini, who faced prison charges for publically removing her hijab, but who refused to repent. That same principled stance sadly has landed Nasrin Sotoudeh in prison herself; she was sentenced to 38 years imprisonment and 148 lashes.