The Lady (Banu)

Writer-director Dariush Mehrjui studied cinema and philosophy at UCLA before returning to Iran in the late 1960s where his second feature The Cow is credited with launching the Iranian New Wave. A giant of Iran cinema for over five decades until his untimely, tragic death in 2023, Mehrjui was a fierce critic of the Iranian regime and fought government censorship throughout his career. In his films, he explored the psychological toll of fear, ignorance and oppression on the lives of individuals with grace, insight and poetry.

Mehrjui directed “Banu” in 1991, a film about a woman named Maryam Banu. Banu is a middle-aged woman who has become accustomed to a solitary life. Her husband goes on frequent and lengthy travels, and the imposed solitude provide Banu with the opportunity for introspection. On her husband’s latest trip, she accidentally finds out that he has started living with another woman. The husband confesses and leaves home, Banu’s bitterness does not last long, and soon her attention is turned to a nearby house which has been demolished. When she finds out that the gardener from the demolished house and his pregnant, ailing wife have no place to live, she takes them in. With the arrival of the gardener’s family, Banoo’s life undergoes fundamental changes.

The film “Banu” has been interpreted by some critics as a representation of Iran being destroyed by oppressive rulers. After the film was made, it was heavily censored and was not allowed screening for seven years.  

Mehrjui was unique among Iranian filmmakers for devotings special attention to the role of women in the family and in society. Four of his films from the 1990s demonstrate this focus: Banu, Sara, Pari, and Leila. These films provide strong, central female characters with profound emotional and intellectual complexity and deep decision-making abilities.

The movie will be presented by Maryam and Safa, daughter and son of Mehrjui as a memorial to his life and legacy. 

October 23rd, 2025

Doors open at 7pm, screening at 7:30pm

Please email hozenoghre@gmail.com to reserve your tickets.  

We kindly ask for suggested donation of $25.