In this new Guardian Documentary, Our Iranian Lockdown, a filmmaking duo turn the camera on themselves and capture their lives in lockdown. Their film is an intimate portrait of the highs and the lows of love and loss in these times of great uncertainty.
In the documentary, filmed over several weeks in quarantine in Tehran, Sara Khaki and Mohammad Reza Eyni attempt to process the devastating loss of a family member to Covid-19.
The frightening news of coronavirus spreading in Tehran is the backdrop to their lives indoors. They see the outside world from their balcony, observing neighbours setting off fireworks and street musicians playing for spare change.
As they approach the Persian new year, usually a time of family reunion, the couple find hope and happiness in the traditional rituals that mark the spring equinox.
Why did you decide to make this film?
Mohammad Reza: In the case of Covid-19, no one is an expert. It is a time to learn from each other. When Sara talked with me about the idea of capturing this time in quarantine, I agreed without hesitation.
Sara: We started filming ourselves within an hour of first talking about it. As filmmakers, it is our natural instinct to be drawn to the camera as a tool to navigate through uncertain times. Around the same time as we started filming, we learned that my uncle passed away. Since Covid-19 is shifting the ways in which we as human beings mourn or celebrate our loved ones’ lives, filming became a healing tool through which our sorrow and mourning could be processed.
What was your creative vision for the film and how did you set about recording yourselves?
Sara: From the beginning, we decided to try to use our limitations to our creative benefit. Since we had to stay in quarantine, we decided that we would only see the outside world from our balcony as this was the place that connected us to the outside world.
Mohammad Reza: This pandemic brings up some essential philosophical questions, like how one can maintain happiness even in disasters. Celebrating the Iranian new year was our answer to this question. Rather than feeling dragged down by the new uncertain situation, we looked to the hope that spring brings. In a way, I’d like to think that we chose Stoic wisdom for times of chaos.
Sara: We also knew that we wanted to capture ourselves leading up to the Iranian new year. Between our conversations, periodic phone calls, cleaning, baking, setting up the Nowruz table, we had a lot to film. Then there were accidental moments that amplified our sense of mood and purpose to film, such as the moment when Mohammad Reza experienced a panic attack or when we found out my uncle passed away.
What impact do you hope this film will have on the viewer?
Mohammad Reza: We believe that our similarities are greater than our differences. This pandemic shows us that all of us are in the same boat and we need to support each other and respect the Earth more than ever.
Sara: It feels like there is nothing more universal than the coronavirus in this world and at this moment! So, unlike a social issue that might be specific to one country, this topic is so relatable and quite frankly, everyone’s nightmare. By way of sharing how we are dealing with it and offering a glimpse into our private life, we’d like to suggest that we’re all in this together.
Also, we deeply believe that there’s a link between this particular virus and climate change. The celebration for the Iranian new year is suggestive of the idea that, if we’re kinder to the Earth, we might get fewer of these invisible enemies in our lives.
Any updates on your life in lockdown right now?
Mohammad Reza: We are looking for new creative ways to deal with uncertainties. We are trying to stay optimistic that Covid-19, despite its chaos, has some positive lessons to offer.
Sara: We continue to self-isolate for the time being and only occasionally leave the house to see my parents. We made a promise to my parents not to see anyone else so that we can keep seeing them.
