Movie of the Day: Shayda (2023) by Noora Niasari

An Iranian woman living in Australia, Shayda finds refuge in a women’s shelter with her frightened 6-year-old daughter, Mona. Having fled her husband, Hossein, and filed for divorce, Shayda struggles to maintain normalcy for Mona. Buoyed by the approach of Nowruz (Persian New Year), she tries to forge a fresh start with new and unfettered freedoms. But when a judge grants Hossein visitation rights, he reenters their life, stoking Shayda’s fear that he’ll attempt to take Mona back to Iran. Nominee Grand Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival 2023. Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13200006/

Link Review: https://collider.com/shayda-cast-zar-amir-ebrahimi-noora-niasaris-directing/

Link to watch: https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/638a173677dd3d7cd88053a2

(available online Jan 24-30, Sundance Film Festival)