In an act of breathtaking courage and raw testimony, survivors of Iran's brutal Evin prison have taken to the screen to re-enact the harrowing torture they endured. The new documentary, Where God Is Not, premiering at the Venice Film Festival, is more than a film; it is a profound act of defiance against a regime that thrives on silence.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouei, the project delves into the darkest corners of the Iranian justice system. The film's participants are not actors but real survivors, primarily former political prisoners, who return to a meticulously recreated set of the infamous prison. There, they confront their trauma head-on, performing the very interrogations, psychological torment, and physical abuse inflicted upon them by the Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
A Chilling Reckoning
The Guardian's review reveals a film that is as difficult to watch as it is vital to witness. The re-enactments are not sensationalised but presented with a stark, unflinching clarity. The camera bears witness to stories of solitary confinement, mock executions, and relentless psychological warfare designed to break the human spirit.
This method, known as 'verbatim theatre', transforms the documentary into a unique historical record. The survivors' own words and actions power the narrative, ensuring their experiences are documented with terrifying authenticity, beyond the reach of state denial.
Beyond Trauma: A Political Act
Where God Is Not transcends its role as a mere document of suffering. It is a powerful political statement and a direct challenge to the impunity enjoyed by the Iranian authorities. By seizing control of the narrative, these survivors reclaim their agency and voice, weaponising their memories against their oppressors.
The film arrives amidst ongoing global scrutiny of Iran's human rights record. It serves as a brutal reminder of the realities faced by dissidents, journalists, and activists within the country's carceral system, echoing recent protest movements.
This is not a story defined by victimhood, but one of immense resilience. It is a searing indictment of state-sanctioned violence and a stunning tribute to the power of the human spirit to speak truth to power, no matter the cost.
