CWC Global Film Screening: And, Towards Happy Alleys

Inspired by Iranian cinema and the poetry of Forough Farrokhzad, Indian filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh’s And, Towards Happy Alleys (2023) bears witness to how resistance has become a daily act of survival in contemporary Iranian society. Through interviews conducted over the course of six years—including conversations with filmmakers Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Shirvani, and human rights activist Nasrin Sotudeh—Singh reveals the precarious position of the Iranian regime’s critics, at constant risk of being banned from practicing their respective professions or, worse, imprisoned. Alongside these voices, the film documents the experiences of everyday Iranian women, revealing the profound impact of the regime on their daily lives. The film is both a passionate homage to Iranian cinema and poetry, and a stirring testament to those on the front lines of the protest movements currently rocking the country.

Filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh will join moderator Shiva Balaghi (Area Global Initiative, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion of And, Towards Happy Alleys.