It is a year and a half since we last visited the project to make a feature film about Mona Mahmudnizhad and the 9 other Baha’i women who were killed for their beliefs. It has been more than three and a half years since the first story was first mentioned (Passion of Mona).
But finally things seem to be coming together. The film, Mona’s Dream will go into pre-production in the fall with shooting planned for this winter and post-production into early next year.
Which would mean that if the everything goes to plan we can see the film next summer. The project has currently half of its financial budget ($7 million) and will hopefully be able to raise the rest going into (pre-)production.
Here are the confirmed actors so far for the project:
Keisha Castle-Hughes to play Mona Mahmudnizhad
Keisha was catapulted into stardom with the movie “Whale Rider” in 2002; for which she received an Academy Award nomination. There is no question she is a talented actress but I’m surprised by this casting because Keisha is twice the age of Mona (Steve corrected me - see comments).
Shohreh Aghdashloo to play Mona’s mother
Ms. Aghdashloo was the first high profile actor to be linked to Mona’s Dream.
Cas Anvar to play main interrogator
The Canadian born actor has been prolific both on the stage as well as in film with many roles in both TV and movies.
Nazanin Afshin-Jam (in her debut) to play Tahirih
The Canadian model (Miss World Canada 2003 and Miss World runner-up) and singer is active in human rights causes. She first took on the cause of Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi who was sentenced to death in Iran but who later received a new trial and was exonerated.
As well, a new foundation, inspired by the project and Mona’s life, has been created: Freedom to Believe Foundation.
I’ve been waiting for this movie to come together since three and a half years ago, so I am excited that it might be coming out by next summer. As for the petition, I will sign it if the institutions of the Baha’i Faith practice what they preach. If they ask that I respect and celebrate the freedom of conscience in the name of Baha’is who were executed by the authorities of a Muslim theocracy, then the institutions of the Baha’i Faith should stop excommunicating, pressuring, and threatening academics, intellectuals, and homosexuals from expulsion because they don’t ‘fit the plan’. I will still sign it in honor of Mona Mahmudnizhad, but I request the Baha’i institutions begin to honor her as well by pondering her deeds of conscience, and how she stood up against the mantra of ‘that’s just how we do things around here’. If we can praise her for doing that in the center of a Muslim theocracy, then why should we condemn those who do it in a Baha’i setting? That is hypocrisy…
Solidarity Statement for the Freedom to Believe
The Creator of the Universe is known and called by many different names. The human experience of worship through expressions of love is perhaps the single most powerful energy at our command, unless it isn’t. I celebrate the beauty of cultural diversity in matters of spiritual expression, unless I am otherwise instructed by the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel.
The freedom to hold beliefs of one’s choosing and to change them is central to an individual’s search for meaning, unless it isn’t. The human mind, endowed with reason and conscience, must be free to search for truth, unless it is otherwise instructed by the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel.
I honor each individual’s journey to find that place of peace, unless I am otherwise instructed by the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel.
In an age hungering for unity and justice in human affairs, I acknowledge the need for peaceful co-existence between different belief systems, unless I don’t. The right to peacefully gather and share one’s beliefs safely in organized communities must be protected everywhere, provided it is permitted by the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel.
I stand in solidarity with all faiths of humanity, unless I don’t (especially not the liberal, degenerate ones), by reaffirming that liberty and “freedom to believe” are divine gifts, and these gifts are for all of us to enjoy without fear or intimidation, unless it be by the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel.
This is a central and undeniable human right, unless it is deemed otherwise by the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel.
Therefore, I speak my truth, which is whatever the Baha’i clerical caste headquartered in Haifa, Israel, instructs me to speak.
Nur wrote:
“If they ask that I respect and celebrate the freedom of conscience in the name of Baha’is who were executed by the authorities of a Muslim theocracy, then the institutions of the Baha’i Faith should stop excommunicating, pressuring, and threatening academics, intellectuals, and homosexuals from expulsion because they don’t ‘fit the plan’.”
The institutions of the Baha’i Faith do not excommunicate, pressure, or threaten academics, intellectuals, or homosexuals. It is merely your perception that they do so. It’s all just a misunderstanding. All you have to do is click the heels of your ruby slippers together to realize how mistaken you are. A lobotomy may also be in order.
But seriously …
I would never sign such a petition. Dorothy Day once said, “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed that easily.” For me to sign such a petition would be to dismiss Mona Mahmudnizhad by using her life and death for purely propagandistic purposes. It would be giving credence to a lie.
Keisha was born on 24 March 1990. She’ll still be 18 when the film is shot. I assume she’ll be portraying what happened to Mona between the age of 16 and 17.
Keisha is part-Maori and, like Cliff Curtis, does seem to get a lot of “Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean” roles.
I hate to say it, but the recent persecution of Baha’is in Iran must have helped in the pitching of this film. Let me re-phrase that: It’s so fortunate that it was already being promoted when the latest persections occurred.
Andrew,
You make a good a point about not signing the signature. I didn’t consider that. I haven’t signed it, yet. I’m not sure if I will. I’m still thinking it over. Sometimes I feel that these ‘human rights’ petitions have some other agenda attached to them, and I don’t want to involuntarily throw in my support for that along with the specific cause it is promoting.
Nur you and Andrew made excellent post in fact, thanks again for that better then Sunday comics rendition of the petition Andrew. I would not sign it either for the main reason made in your last statement: “…by using her life and death for purely propagandistic purposes. It would be giving credence to a lie”
The whole freedomtobelievefoundation.com is an easy to remember url, sounds like a lucky catch phrase however I believe that Mona should not be the only martyr singled out on religious persecution nor the only focus on religious persecution on Bahà’í’s. It’s intended for Bahà’í’s by only listing Bahà’í content… and it’s probably a approved AO way to, at a later date, deem all signers Bahà’í in therory and issue out swipe card numbers..
However I do think the casting is great, extrodinary story and the best bit of it all is that they are not Bahà’í’s, the producers, nor is it under any approval from the AO. I think because there is a guy like Mel Gibson, an ardent Catholic, you will find this film more about Mona as a brave human more then the Bahà’í religion beliefs, like the movies Diary of Anne Frank, or Shindler’s List which didn’t try to teach about Judaism but about barbarians…
Great change of topic Baquia and her bravery was certainly unique and worthy of sharing with the world, an extraordinary human indeed.
Bird
Jack Lenz is the producer and a Baha’i.
Last I knew, Mel Gibson declined to be involved in any way once he found out Mona’s Baha’i beliefs were at the core of the story.
Don C
Well Don, that is just plain sad. Rather then focus on the courage of the brave Mona, focus on her religion. Sounds like a patsy to me.
Since a story may not be filmed on the central figures, why not pick the 16 year old who died for it to tell it… hummm, something sounds wrong with this picture already. All the makings of a hidden agenda.
Most of the Bahà’í’s I know, in fact all in person, NEVER question anything.
Well, I’m sure it will be just dandy.
A movie that shows the willingness of women to obey religion to a point of being martyred will restore respect for the Law. It will show that females can be of help to the men. With Jack Lenz being a Baha’i he will probably stick close to what the House wants as well as showing that martyrdom is an exalted state in the eyes of Islam and Baha’u’llah (Hidden Words).
Fiqh
Most of the Bahà’í’s I know, in fact all in person, NEVER question anything.
Well, I’m sure it will be just dandy.
Further to the last commennt:
I wonder if the actors know they will be backing up the Baha’i ideals of martyrdom, being forbidden to recant the Faith, the downgraded position of women in decision making exemplified in Baha’i practice, and imprinting children to give their lives for the Baha’i Cause? Most of all I wonder if they realize the disservice they will be doing to the truth of Tahirih’s life and teachings by following the limited spin Baha’i permits. By doing so civilization is downgraded in thought and action; while they ‘think’ they are doing a service it is quite the opposite. Baha’u'llah was instructed by The Bab to submit to Tahirih’s teachings; yet his faith does not uphold female leadership that she stood for as one of the first Feminists in the Middle East. This is the real Law the movie should be bringing attention to.
http://free-zepher.blogspot.com/
I’m excited to hear about the update of Mona’s Dream. How wonderful that Mona’s exemplary life will be shared with the rest of the world.
Thank you for the update of ‘Mona’s dream’. How wonderful that Mona’s exemplary life will be shared with the rest of the world.
Further to the last commennt:
I wonder if the actors know they will be backing up the Baha’i ideals of martyrdom, being forbidden to recant the Faith, the downgraded position of women in decision making exemplified in Baha’i practice, and imprinting children to give their lives for the Baha’i Cause? Most of all I wonder if they realize the disservice they will be doing to the truth of Tahirih’s life and teachings by following the limited spin Baha’i permits. By doing so civilization is downgraded in thought and action; while they ‘think’ they are doing a service it is quite the opposite. Baha’u’llah was instructed by The Bab to submit to Tahirih’s teachings; yet his faith does not uphold female leadership that she stood for;
I understand what you say; however after the ascension of Abdulbaha
The Faith has had women as Bahai leaders, one example being
The Most Holy Leaf, Bahaullah’s daughter. Bahai’s are also
at the moment working for women’s full equality in all spheres,
including employment, education and family life.