Green Wave, The

Combining archival footage with vivid animation, writer-director Ali Samadi Ahadi presents an eye-opening portrait of the recent uprising in Iran following the 2009 election.  Like Persepolis and Waltz with Bashir, the film uses its animated sequences to go where real cameras could not. 

A product of modern, tech-savvy Iranian youth, the “Green Wave” was born out of a desire to challenge the status quo. The efforts of the movement culminated in what appeared to be the victory of presidential hopeful Mir Hossein Mousavi over incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the spring of 2009. The subsequent re-election of Ahmadinejad prompted thousands to take to the streets in protest of what they believed was a rigged election. Ahadi captures the voices daring to speak out, regardless of the knowledge they were jeopardizing their careers and even their lives.

Through everything from testimonials, to blog posts, to footage from the protests themselves, Ahadi reveals with startling poignancy the truth behind one of the most remarkable political upheavals in recent history.

Print Source: Visit Films, Aida LiPera, al@visitfilms.com