While a women-led revolution preludes a new era of change in Iran, the political unrest that hangs heavy over the fight tells just one side of the story. Among the horrors and means of control opposed through protest, the situation spotlights women united by a passionate connection to their country and their culture – and the possibility of an independent future for the women and girls still to come.

Identifying the beauty found in collectivity as an alternate form of defiance against modes of suppression, Copenhagen-based Iranian director Naghmeh Pour envisions short film, Iran-e Man – a collaboration between Scandinavian production company new–land and The Women’s Life Freedom project. Initiated by emerging Iranian/Italian brand PAIRI DAEZA, the project invited twelve Iranian artists from across the globe to imprint messages capturing the spirit of revolution, materialized as the trailing scarves that punctuate the film. With contributions by Tala Madani, Maryam Keyhani, Sara Emami, Mona Danesh, Ardeshir Tabrizi, Hana Shanavaz, Arghavan Khosravi, Mahboubeh Absalan, Maryam Sefati, Hanieh Ghashghaei, Yasaman Rezaee and Rahiilzz, the scarves intend to turn a symbol of suppression into a symbol of empowerment and independence – with all profits donated to human rights organization, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, supporting the women’s movement in Iran.

Shot in rural Morocco to evoke the rolling Iandscape of Iran, Iran-e Man takes a meditative journey through classic Iranian cinema, emulating its distinct visual quality in a collision of past and present, fantasy and realism. A celebration of the rich cultural history of Iran, and the inherent beauty found outside of the media reports, Pour offers a message of empowerment to future generations, in the hope that the world they inhabit stands as a positive imprint of today’s fight for freedom.