Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Saneeha/ Iran, France, Sweden, Germany/ 2024/ 97 mins
With My Favourite Cake writer/directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, along with cinematographer Mohamed Hadadi, have created a film containing beautifully crafted studies of empty rooms, each evocative of a life on hold. This life on hold belongs to Mahin, played by Lili Farhadpoor, who is surrounded by a past which is breaking down: a yearly visit from friends offering colostomy videos as entertainment, an unlit garden and a wardrobe of unworn clothes. We first find Mahin sleeping till noon, trapped by widowhood, old age, and the Iranian morality police.
Despite this potential dreariness, this film is a joyful romantic comedy, set against the backdrop of the harsh Iranian regime which demands that hijabs must cover every strand of hair, that no music should be played, and there should definitely be no flirtation. Mahin is aware that her life is shrinking and decides to rebel. She aims to find a man to share her life with.
With no previous experience, she tries and fails to attract attention in the bread queue. She has no more luck at the local park where she looks for men taking exercise, seemingly they are normally there at dawn. Discouraged, she goes for lunch at the pensioners’ restaurant. Eavesdropping, she learns about Faranez, a taxi driver who lives alone. Armed with this knowledge she inveigles a lift then invites him into her home, and the fun begins.
My Favourite Cake is significant in that it explores a subject rarely thought of, a relationship between an older couple. Mahin and Faranez discover an immediate rapport in their past rebellions and the evening is further enhanced by another forbidden delight, red wine. The couple charm as they hide from a nosy neighbour, attempt to share a shower and dance as though only they are watching. This is a funny film with engaging characters reminding the viewer how old age can sometimes feel like being invisible.
While this film is applauded abroad the directors Moghaddam and Saneeha, are banned from travelling and court proceedings have been instigated against them. The filming was made in secret, as the negative portrayal of the morality police and seeing an unmarried couple enjoying each other’s company is punishable by law. This film is important for truthfully portraying the difficulties of age and the problems caused by restricting freedoms. My Favourite Cake is also about hope, no matter the circumstances never give up.
Screening at Eden Court, Inverness until Sun 27 Oct 2024
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