Danger is never very far away in Noora Niasari’s confident debut, a deeply personal tribute to a generation torn between tradition and modernity.
Focusing on the title character, Shayda hangs on a vulnerable but powerful performance from Holy Spider’s Zar Amir Ebrahimi as an Iranian divorcée hiding out from her abusive ex, who may or may not be planning to smuggle their daughter Mona (Selina Zahednia) back to Iran.
This fear is played out in the jittery opening sequence, set in 1995, when Shayda and Vi (Jillian Nguyen), a social worker of sorts, scope out an airport with Mona in tow.
Both women impress upon Mona what to do if she should ever end up there against her will, noting repeatedly that blue uniforms equate with safety.
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