The Day I Became a Woman, a landmark in Asian women’s cinema, weaves together the stories of three women—Hava, Ahoo, and Hoora—into a series of episodes. On her ninth birthday, a young girl named Hava is told that today is the day she becomes a woman, and she is no longer allowed to go outside or play with boys. A young woman, Ahoo, defies her husband and family to participate in a women′s bicycle race along a coastal road. An elderly woman, Hoora, loads a giant raft with her belongings and sets sail into the open sea. This narrative could be about the events that happen to three women in a single day, or it could be the lifelong story of one woman progressing through childhood, youth, and old age. We invite you to see this classic of women′s cinema on the big screen, which captivatingly unfolds the universal yet unique structure of the female experience.
Marziyeh Meshkiny is an acclaimed Iranian film director and screenwriter. A graduate of the Makhmalbaf Film School, she made her directorial debut with The Day I Became a Woman (2000), which won multiple awards at the Venice International Film Festival and the New Currents Award at Busan International Film Festival. Meshkiny has since directed several notable films, including Stray Dogs (2004) and The Man Who Came with the Snow (2009), and has contributed as a writer and assistant director to numerous projects within the Makhmalbaf Film House. Her work is recognized internationally for its poetic storytelling and social insight.
From Busan International Film Festival 2025, No. 30
