Starless Dreams

Starless Dreams is a compelling and powerful documentary released in 2016 by Iranian filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouei. The documentary shines a light on the obscure part of this world and deals with the society's most desolate ones- Juvenile Delinquents. It marks Oskouei’s final entry in a trilogy which also includes It’s Always Late for Freedom (2007) and The Last Days of Winter (2011).

The movie takes us to a juvenile detention center on the outskirts of Tehran. Oskouei gains remarkable access to this all-female facility, allowing the viewers an intimate look into the lives of the inmates. The central characters are not recidivist criminals but young girls, mostly underage, who have been given asylum in the correction center due to their involvement in crimes such as robbery and murder. However, these are merely the offenses they’ve committed; the stories that led them down this path are sobering and heart-wrenching.

Throughout the film, we delve into these stories of loss, betrayal, violence, and sadly, the failure of those who were supposed to protect them. Many of these young women are victims themselves - of domestic violence, drug addiction, and extreme poverty. As they share their stories, it becomes clear that most of them were forced into their criminal activities either by circumstance or coercion.

In the film, Oskouei masterfully handles these deeply intimate and painful narratives with great sensitivity, drawing out their stories without ever feeling exploitative. He creates a situation of trust which makes the girls speak, sometimes even casually, about matters of life and death, dreams, and despair. Their stories reveal the weaknesses of the protective systems supposed to prevent such incidents from happening and highlight the brutal realities they’ve faced, which many of their peers outside the facility can hardly even imagine.

Interwoven with the interviews are moments of everyday life in the correction center, which give an idea of the world these young girls are living in. These sequences reveal the close relationships they’ve formed with each other as a sort of makeshift family; a hint at their shared longing for care and affection, where vulnerability is embraced rather than exploited.

Another intriguing aspect of Starless Dreams is its portrayal of the juxtaposition of childhood and harsh reality. Despite their circumstances, these girls are still teenagers. They giggle, play arm-wrestling; they engage in pillow fights, sing songs, and write letters. These scenes are touching as well as shocking, posing existential questions about innocence, guilt, and the scope for redemption.

Starless Dreams leaves the audience contemplating about the value of compassion, humanity, and the profound impact of listening to marginalized voices. The documentary does not delve into offering solutions or preaching right from wrong. Instead, it allows the stories of these girls to be heard in their purest form. The power of their individual narratives and their collective strength offers an uneasy reflection about society, affirming the universal truth of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of almost insurmountable despair.

The film is keenly aware of the societal structures and norms that contribute to this delinquency. It subtly underscores the role of women in a particularly patriarchal society and how cultural beliefs can shape the lives of women, sometimes in incredibly harmful ways. Oskouei's approach to the material is exploratory and observational rather than judgmental or sensationalized.

Starless Dreams is shot in a distinct style. Its cinematography is simplistic, but intimate, bringing out the starkness of the setting in the rawest form. Oskouei chooses to capture moments of quiet introspection along with moments of communal laughter, effectively portraying the gamut of human experiences in the center. The result is a contrast of deep despair and cruel irony, set against the backdrop of the young women’s unyielding spirit and determination to endure.

The documentary received a lot of international recognition and garnered several awards for its riveting content and filmmaking, elevating the reputation of Iranian cinema high above the ground. Starless Dreams is a notable addition to the world of cinema for its depth, narrative method, unique setting, and humanistic touch, providing an empathetic portrait of social justice issues looking beyond the crime.

Starless Dreams is more than a movie; it is an unconventional dialogue about the societal norms that shape girls' lives and the grim realities they have faced. It encompasses the brutality of their past and the hope for a better future, all the while capturing the resilience of the human spirit in its rawest form.