Maydegol
{{short description|2024 Iranian documentary film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Maydegol
| image = Maydegol film poster.jpg
| caption = Festival release poster
| native_name =
| director = Sarvnaz Alambeigi
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Katayoon Shahabi
- Sarvnaz Alambeigi }}
| writer = Sarvnaz Alambeigi
| based_on =
| starring = Maydegol
| music =
| cinematography = Mehdi Azadi
| editing = Hamid Najafirad
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- Rabison Art
- Noori Pictures }}
| distributor = Taskovski Films
| released = {{Film date|2024|2|18|Berlinale|df=yes}}
| runtime = 73 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
- Iran
- Germany
- France }}
| language = {{Plainlist|
- Persian
- Dari }}
| budget =
}}
Maydegol is a 2024 documentary film written and directed by Sarvnaz Alambeigi. The work is about an Afghan teenager Maydegol, an immigrant in Iran, who strives to pursue her dream of becoming a professional Muay Thai boxer while battling the social injustice and violence she encounters beyond the ring.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nooripictures.com/ |title= Maydegol |access-date=8 February 2024 |website= Noori Pictures|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://en.unifrance.org/movie/58604/maydegol |title=Maydegol|access-date=8 February 2024 |website= Unifrance |language=en}}
The international co-production between Iran, Germany and France was selected in the Generation 14plus section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its World premiere on 18 February and competed for Crystal Bear for the Best Film, and got Special Mention Generation 14plus award.{{Cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/454955/ |title= Berlin unveils the entirety of its Generation line-up |first= Vassilis |last= Economou |date=18 January 2024|access-date=8 February 2024 |website= Cineuropa |language=en}} The film was also nominated for the Berlinale Documentary Film Award.
Contents
Maydegol is a film that shows the resilience of Generation Z who want to break free from their hopeless situations and claim their rights, especially young women who seek liberation – even if it means risking their lives. The film also reflects the audience's own power.
Maydegol, from an Afghan immigrant family in Iran has dream of becoming a Muay Thai boxer. She does not let her family's traditional views, her past trauma or the discrimination she faces stop her from following her passion. She secretly pays for her boxing lessons by working hard. She sees boxing as a way to not only win in the ring but also cope with life's challenges.
Cast
- Maydegol
- Mohadesseh
- Farzaneh
Release
Maydegol had its World premiere on 18 February 2024, as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, in Generation 14plus.{{cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/berlinale-unveils-complete-2024-panorama-generation-forum-sections/5189510.article |title=Berlinale unveils complete 2024 Panorama, Generation, Forum sections |first= Ben |last= Dalton |date=17 January 2024 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=ScreenDaily |language=en}}{{cite web |url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/2024/programme/202414269.html#screening_dates |title=Maydegol |work=Berlinale |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=8 February 2024}}
In February 2024, Taskovski Films Sales acquired the sales rights of the film prior to its Berlinale premiere.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/maydegol-taskovski-berlinale-1235900728/ |title= Iranian Documentary About Teen Girl Thai Boxer 'Maydegol' Picked Up by Taskovski Ahead of Berlinale Premiere (EXCLUSIVE) |author= Leo Barraclough |work= Variety|date=7 February 2024 |access-date=8 February 2024 |language=en}}
On 31 October 2024, the film was showcased at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival in 'Women’s Empowerment' section.{{Cite web|url=https://2024.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/list.html |title= TIFF: Full lineup|website=Tokyo International Film Festival |date=September 25, 2024|access-date=September 26, 2024|language=en}}
It will have its United States premiere at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival on 13 February 2025.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/santa-barbara-film-festival-2025-lineup-1236259978/ |title=Santa Barbara Film Festival Sets Full 2025 Program, Will Partner With Direct Relief To Raise Funds For L.A. Wildfires|first= Pete |last=Hammond |date=January 17, 2025|access-date=January 18, 2025 |website= Deadline |language=en}}
Reception
Fabien Lemercier reviewing the film at Berlinale for Cineuropa wrote, "Maydegol turns out to be a female documentary immersion of a kind that is rare in Iran, filmed in a raw style and full of very moving resonance (“we belong to nothing”) about the courage and resilience necessary to face the harshness of the world."{{Cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/457013 |title= Review: Maydegol|first=Fabien |last=Lemercier |date=18 February 2024|access-date=18 February 2024 |website= Cineuropa |language=en}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Award ! Date ! Category ! Recipient ! Result ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"|Berlin International Film Festival
| rowspan="2"|25 February 2024 | The Grand Prix of the International Jury: Special Mention | rowspan="2"|Sarvnaz Alambeigi | {{Won}} | align="center" rowspan="1"|{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/berlinale-2024-full-panorama-forum-generation-line-ups-1235795060/|title=Berlinale Unveils Full Panorama, Forum & Generation Line-Ups With New Films By Nathan Silver, Levan Akin, André Téchiné & Bruce LaBruce|website=Deadline|first=Melanie |last=Goodfellow|date=17 January 2024|access-date=8 February 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/festival/awards-and-juries/awards-generation.html |title=Generation Awards and Juries |work=Berlinale |date=23 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024}} |
|---|
| Berlinale Documentary Film Award
| {{Nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|tt30969960}}
- {{AlloCiné title}}
- [https://www.berlinale.de/en/2024/programme/202414269.html Maydegol] at Berlinale
Category:2024 documentary films
Category:2020s Persian-language films
Category:Iranian documentary films
Category:German documentary films