cinema trust The documentary “Kimiya” produced by Mohammad Hossein Heydario and directed by Zohra Ahmadzadeh is about a girl from Zabul who was subjected to domestic violence as a child and her life deviated from the normal path. This work was produced in the Documentary House of Ooz Media Art Organization and is present at the 18th Documentary Festival of True Cinema.
The documentary “Alchemy” is a story of resistance and pain; But it depicts hope and will. This documentary, which was made as a dialogue, tells the story of Kimia’s life from her own words, her mother, aunts and grandmother and focuses on showing the realities of the difficult life of women in deprived areas.
Kimia is a girl who grew up in an environment full of family violence and social pressures. In order to get rid of the difficult conditions, he has taken measures such as early marriage, tolerating his father’s violence and even attempted suicide. This documentary shows well how women in some areas have to live with incorrect and even harmful patterns and this situation is somehow normalized.
Despite all these difficulties, Kimia, as a young and determined person, wants to overcome the existing conditions and strives to achieve independence and freedom. The turning point of this struggle is when Kimia separates from her husband and starts building a new life for herself. This part of the documentary is very important because it conveys to the viewer the message that it is never too late to change, even when everything seems to be against you.
As a conversation-oriented documentary, “Kimiya” has mostly expressed the personal feelings and experiences of Kimiya and her family. In this documentary, the creators have tried to include natural and diverse spaces of Sistan and Baluchistan in the images and turn them into symbols of endurance and struggle.
The use of locations such as mountains, sea, deserts and palm trees, well represents the contradictions and inner coexistence in the story of Alchemy. In addition to the visual and aesthetic aspects, these symbols also help to convey spiritual and emotional messages. This decision shows the director’s attention to the visual aspects and the importance of their relationship with the documentary content.
One of the most important messages of “Alchemy” is that women in many deprived places, despite facing many problems and violence, may blame themselves for these conditions and believe that change is impossible. But this documentary shows that change is possible and women can improve their living conditions with their struggle and efforts. Therefore, it seems that this documentary can inspire many women in similar societies and remind them that they too can overcome difficult situations.
Although “Alchemy” is a successful documentary about the life of a struggling person, its dialogue-oriented structure may seem long and boring for some viewers. However, the documentary’s focus on the details of Kimia’s life and her inner feelings allows the audience to establish a deep emotional connection with the main character. For this reason, this type of structure serves the story and conveys a powerful message of understanding and empathy to the viewer.
Despite all the hardships and successes that Kimia has achieved in her life, she is still an ordinary person. Unlike medal-winning heroes or celebrities, Kimia seems to have never received an award or recognition at a public level. Not only is she not known to the outside world, but her life story is more about everyday experiences and deep, human challenges that many women in similar situations face. Struggle to have a normal and equal life.
Kimia is a woman who seeks to change her life conditions through continuous efforts. This is clearly demonstrated in the documentary Alchemy, showing that sometimes the real heroes are those who seek small but profound changes in the heart of their daily struggles, not those who are exposed to public attention. In fact, Alchemy becomes a role model for those who think they cannot make big changes in their lives. He proves that even an ordinary person with determination and effort can overcome problems and achieve a better life, without necessarily achieving great success.
As a documentary director, Zohra Ahmadzadeh has been able to present an honest and real picture of Kimia’s life by using her professional experiences in the field of documenting. By choosing a subject from a deprived area and dealing with women’s issues in it, he has addressed social and cultural concerns that have received less attention in Iranian cinema.