It took Mehran Tamadon two years to convince four Shia clerics to take part in an unusual dialogue. The filmmaker, who lives in Paris, used his family’s idyllic country house as a place to simulate a plural society for one weekend. He begins by presenting his ideal for a secular Iran to the Mullahs. His guests do not lose their countenance, but instead answer his questions about the role of women in Iran, abortion, and freedom of speech in a calm and rhetorically precise way.
What ensues is a constant negotiation about what rules apply, what they are talking about, and what can be said. The Mullahs confront the host, who is critical of the regime, with his own story of immigration. They criticize “Mr. Secular” for his westernized identity, and they skillfully maneuver the conversation toward topics they prefer: How much ideology is acceptable in a plural society? How free can the press be? And how much singing by a woman can be tolerated in an Iranian hit song?
In his experiment, Tamadon is able to defuse tensions within the group repeatedly, creating comic situations unwittingly. While the women retreat within the house, the men have controversial discussions. The mood could change abruptly at any moment; the surreal chamber drama could become a political scandal. Although satisfied that the meeting took place, the filmmaker ultimately feels the consequences of his daring experiment.
