“An uncomfortable reflection of how the world continues to grapple with abuse of power, toxic masculinity, and the silencing of women’s voices.”

Iran’s 1001 Frames dives deep into themes of power, control, and exploitation, reflecting some of the most important conversations happening worldwide today, particularly in the wake of the #MeToo movement. At the heart of the film is a male filmmaker who exerts an unsettling control over a group of women auditioning for the role of Scheherazade in an adaptation of A Thousand and One Nights. What these women face in this audition process becomes emblematic of how power dynamics often play out in the film industry and beyond. The film explores a universal issue – one that transcends national borders, as we see the women not just as actresses but as people whose agency is constantly at risk, confronted with intense forms of manipulation and intimidation. Through the lens of these auditions, the film becomes an uncomfortable reflection of how the world continues to grapple with abuse of power, toxic masculinity, and the silencing of women’s voices. 

The figure of Scheherazade, the storyteller who saves her life by captivating the king with her tales, hangs over the entire narrative of Mehrnoush Alia’s film like a haunting echo. In this twisted retelling the power dynamics shift dramatically as these women, while auditioning for the role of Scheherazade, find themselves trapped in a situation where they must tell their own stories not for their empowerment, but for the filmmaker’s dominance. The actresses are placed under extreme coercion, often subjected to invasive questioning that forces them to confront their own traumas. There’s an intriguing tension that builds as the filmmaker’s presence becomes increasingly overbearing; all the while the women’s faces serve as the only visible outlet for their thoughts. The escalating discomfort between the actresses and the filmmaker is palpable, and the camera – almost a character in itself – becomes a conduit for the tension that emerges from these exchanges. We, as viewers, are allowed to see the women unmask the filmmaker through their perceptions and expressions, as if we too are complicit in this uncomfortable play of voyeurism. 

Mehrnoush Alia’s direction is confident in its use of tension and discomfort. The film, which is a debut feature, feels purposefully claustrophobic and unnerving, with the camera often lingering on the faces of the women as they navigate their unspoken fear and apprehension. Alia makes bold choices with framing and movement, usually placing the camera in tight, uncomfortable positions to mirror the emotional and psychological space the women find themselves in. There’s a deliberate despair when the camera follows their every move, capturing not just their facial expressions but their physical responses to being interrogated and exposed. The film’s dialogue-heavy scenes reveal the power imbalances, with the women often reduced to mere vessels for the man’s aggressive probing. The discomfort and power struggle at play are accentuated by the deliberate pacing, where the tension rises so slowly that it becomes almost unbearable. And yet, despite all this, there’s an underlying fixation in watching these women wrestle with their roles – both within the film and within the societal structures they navigate. 

While the film is undoubtedly a powerful meditation on the themes of authority and manipulation, there is a point at which its intensity begins to feel repetitive. The film’s relentless exploration of these power dynamics, though essential to its narrative, at times overstays its welcome, making our emotional engagement with the film wane as it enters its latter stages. Despite the impressive ensemble cast and the strong performances that anchor the film, where the actors convey their internal struggles and desires with precision, 1001 Frames can feel like a continuous cycle of tension without recess. It remains a compelling exploration of the complexities of the human condition, but its repetitive nature and prolonged focus on its thematic elements risk detracting from its otherwise strong, poignant vision. Yet, the film deserves a careful look for its daring exploration of painful realities. 

Image copyright: Maaa Film