Hope and fear vie for prominence throughout Noora Niasari’s debut feature “Shayda,” in which Zar Amir Ebrahimi (“Holy Spider”) enthralls as a Persian mother living in Australia who takes refuge in a ...

Making her feature debut, writer-director Noora Niasari has crafted a gripping drama about one Iranian woman’s struggle to extricate herself from her husband — an ordeal that could also mean losing ...

Zar Amir Ebrahimi of 'Holy Spider' delivers a quietly commanding performance as a brave domestic violence survivor who demands a life on her own terms. Still, there is hope for Shayda (the terrific ...

Australian cinema has often struggled to authentically portray the cultural lives of Middle Eastern Australians. Stereotypical stories frequently sidestep the intricacies of social bonds, as well as ...

Cate Blanchett is one of the executive producers of a debut feature starring Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who toplined ‘Holy Spider.’ By Sheri Linden Senior Copy Editor/Film Critic Early scenes are thick with ...

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Zar Amir Ebrahimi and ...

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 ...

The Iranian French actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi has the eyes of a silent film heroine and the face of a Modigliani. In repose, she can convey a sense of sorrow that feels both elegant and timeless, but ...

“Shayda” follows a mother and daughter living in a women’s shelter. The mother — Shayda herself, played by the lauded Zar Amir Ebrahimi — is in the throes of a turbulent divorce from her abusive ...