The Persian Version (15)
Directed by Maryam Keshavarz
★★★★

 
DESCRIBING itself as “a true story... sort of,” the film opens with its female protagonist proudly walking across New York dressed as Miss Burka Tini in a clash-of-cultures statement which is explored throughout this smart, funny and surprisingly soulful autobiographical comedy drama. 
 
Based on writer-director Maryam Keshavarz’s own life it follows Iranian-American Leila (a magnetic Layla Mohammadi) who has difficulties reconciling her opposing cultures. As she states: in America she is considered to be too Iranian while in Iran she is too American. 
 
Meanwhile she is the only girl (and a divorced lesbian) among eight brothers, a fact that her domineering mother Shireen (Niousha Noor), a self-made businesswoman, won’t forgive, resulting in their inevitable estrangement.
 
Centring on three generations of Iranian women, the film moves from the 1960s to the 1980s to the 2000s as it explores identity and home along with the prickly dynamic between mothers and daughters. What is revealed is that they have more in common than they realise.
 
At the start Leila breaks the fourth wall constantly, making biting asides to the audience, but this is dropped when the tone turns more serious as she learns the real reason her parents moved to the US. This makes her begin to appreciate her mum. 
 
With its vibrant colour palette, comic relief and fun dance numbers this is a joyful film about immigrant families, resilience and a woman who refuses to apologise for who she is. 

Out in cinemas on Friday
 

Robot Dreams (PG) 
Directed by Pablo Berger 
★★★★