AVA

In Tehran, upper-middle-class teen Ava abides by a strict routine of school, violin lessons, and curfew. When Ava's mistrustful and overprotective mother questions her relationship with a boy — going so far as to consult a gynecologist — Ava is stunned by this violation of privacy. Her tightly controlled environment exacerbates feelings of suffocation and isolation, and further diminishes her trust in the adults who attempt to regulate her life. That her parents, including her sympathetic but powerless father, seem more concerned with social optics than their daughter's welfare only escalates Ava's rebellious behaviour, to life-altering effect. Sadaf Foroughi vividly renders her heroine's internal turmoil while exposing the pervasive impact of her family's shaming. Each frame is stunningly composed, with scenes that offer a searing social critique while presenting a strong, richly developed female character. With Ava, Foroughi establishes herself as a cinematic force.