Sundance 2009: "The Glass House" Review - Written by Mathius Mack Gertz

The Glass House
USA/Iran, 2008, 92min., color
Farsi with English Subtitles
Genre: Documentary
Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Hamid Rahmanian
Screenwriter/Producer: Melissa Hibbard
Composer: David Bergeaud
Sound: Paul Longstaffe, Christopher, Harvengt




The Glass House skillfully examines the mostly hidden lives of young women, teetering on the fringes of Iranian society in modern Tehran. Marginalized by their families, these women have found a saving grace in the day center formed by an Iranian expatriate. Marjaneh Halati opened the center to give downtrodden young women a voice, thus empowering them with life skills they need to succeed on their own. Many of these teens previously have spent time in jail, hospital, or state home because they had no other option.


In superb cinema-verite style spanning 18 months, the film portrays a spirit of hopefulness. Former victims are given a chance to express themselves, in a society where self expression especially for women is frowned upon, and in many ways outlawed. The girls are given a chance to transform their difficult circumstances into new beginnings, counseled on how to placate the violent men in their lives and at the same time empower themselves for economic independence. Not all succeed and the use and extent of drug abuse is both disturbing and thought provoking.


No less fascinating is the subplot of The Glass House. The urban decay of Iranian society under the Ayatollahs is addressed visually as well as the toll that orthodox Iranian society has taken on its men. Without opportunity, hope and the right of free speech, they take their frustration out verbally and physically on the women in their lives, mostly wives and daughters. At the same time, we are treated to a look at the Iranian people. Behind the nuclear rhetoric of their president, we learn to care about these people, to relate to their problems and to be concerned about their plight. There is a strong parallel here to the violence against women perpetrated by men in the United States. Especially by ethnic men frustrated by a system that they feel discriminates against them and makes it impossible to adequately care for their families. A well edited powerful indictment. Four stars.