Starless Dreams

The unforgettable Iranian-produced documentary Starless Dreams immerses us in the lives of seven young teenage girls sharing temporary quarters at a rehabilitation and correctional center at the edge of Tehran. All of them are serving time for deeply serious crimes—including drug trafficking, stealing, and manslaughter. Prominent Iranian documentarian Mehrdad Oskouei spent seven years securing access to this all-female facility, and the film captures his vividly raw conversations with the girls. Though they hate being imprisoned, they’ve found a community and fear returning to the dangers of the outside world, including their own families. The heartbreaking movie takes the time to listen to stories of people who have never been listened to, with compassionate and complex results. (76 mins., DCP)