Murder, drug addiction, hijacking cars, running away from home: these are just a few of the crimes that the girls from the rehabilitation center for juvenile delinquents in Tehran have committed. After fighting the Iranian authorities for seven years, director Mehrdad Oskouei was finally granted permission to film an imprisoned population, otherwise hidden from the public eye. The result is an incredibly personal documentary about the dreams, nightmares, and hopes of the 18-year-olds in this all-female facility. Their individual stories show their desire to return to freedom and live normal lives, but also the fear of what is waiting for them on the outside. Starless Dreams won prizes at the Berlinale, Full Frame, and the True/False Film Fest.
