An Iranian director has used his Oscars nomination as an opportunity to make “a small change” in the fight for gender equality in Iran by discussing the issue with industry giants such as Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg.
The Red Suitcase is an 18-minute short film up for Best Live Action Short at the 95th Academy Awards and is directed by Cyrus Neshvad.
The film, co-written with French producer Guillaume Levil, follows an Iranian girl, 16, played by Nawelle Ewad, landing at Luxembourg Airport with a red suitcase and swiftly trying to escape an arranged marriage to a much older man waiting for her at the arrivals gate.
Neshvad said he has used his first ever Academy Awards nomination and time in Los Angeles to be “a part” of what he called the revolution of women in Iran.
He said he received an “empathetic” reaction from some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Tom Cruise, who told him: “We should be strong.”
“Being nominated means that we can bring visibility to Iranian women's suffering on a global scale”, Neshvad, who was born in Iran but has lived in Luxembourg since the age of five, told The National.
Neshvad said he was “not a politician”, but the nomination allows him to help.
He told The National that he blames both personal responsibility and the society's structure for the current situation: “We need to have proper rules in place and educate people.”
In an interview with PA agency he said: “I went to the [Oscars] luncheon. I met Tom Cruise. I didn’t say, ‘Mr Tom Cruise, I love you, blah blah blah.’
“I said, ‘Tom Cruise, I have to talk about a serious issue, about the women’s rights in Iran'.
“He said, actually, that he knows what’s going on — and that he cares a lot about this.
“And actually, he took me in his arms and he took me like this and said, ‘We should be strong’.
“(That) he heard about this from me, it will have a small change, perhaps not big. Perhaps one hour later he’ll forget about it, but it was there.”
Iran protests 40 days since Mahsa Amini's death — in pictures
He spoke to Spielberg, who is nominated for Best Director for an eighth time this year.
He is a hero of Neshvad, who said he was “very available” to talk to about what is happening in Iran.
The feminist Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, in police custody last September, is continuing.
It has led to protests over issues affecting women and girls, such as domestic violence, abortion and strict dress code laws.
Neshvad’s film was made two years before Amini’s death but he said “what the world knows today” is something people in Iran have known for a long time, and that the message he wants audiences to derive from The Red Suitcase is one of equality.
Iranian-American celebrities show support for protest movement in Iran — in pictures
“A woman is allowed to have the free will, a woman should have [equal] rights with men,” he said.
“Because at the end of the day, they are each one wing of this bird.
“If one wing is not working correctly, or is not the same as the other, the bird will not fly very far.”
Neshvad described the Iranian government as “a virus” that continues to grow and become “more and more cruel”.
Neshvad said he was proud of the Iranian people embarking on this revolution and hopes his film “can be a part of this”.
On the moment he learnt of his Academy Award nomination, he said: “I was with my family, my Iranian family … we were sitting there, and then we got the news.
“Actually I felt happiness for what this movie will do, like I will have the opportunity to talk about this.
“So that was the victory for me, not the victory so much to go to America and so on.”
Mahsa Amini protests in Iran and around the world — in pictures
His film, on the suggestion of co-writer Levil, also highlights women’s issues not just in Iran but around the world by adding into the script many adverts of women using their sexuality to “sell an object” such as shampoo.
Neshvad expressed optimism that the world “has empathy” for Iran.
“In Europe, in America we have good people, with heart and [who] are focused on Iran because they don’t like this injustice,” he said.
“And this makes me very, very happy that we are living in a very beautiful world with good people around us.
“In our diversity … we are unified.”
French actresses cut hair in solidarity with protesting Iranian women — video
The red suitcase itself, which Ewad’s character Ariane clutches tight to her chest for much of the film, symbolises the teenager’s heart, something she is desperate to keep from the older man waiting for her.
“What is important is that we should know that in Iran, it’s the domination of the man,” Neshvad said.
Neshvad told The National “Women and men are two wings of the same bird. If the wings are the same that’s when the bird can fly high and far.”
“So there is the patriarch, man, father, over the daughter who can say nothing”.
“She needs to make a choice to get her freedom, in this case cutting off her family.”
“And what’s the price to pay for all this? Say bye to the family, to the red suitcase, to her money, to her identity and to her country.
“And when she did all this, then she has her freedom.”
Neshvad told The National that future plans include shooting a movie in the summer about a six-year-old boy’s strange friendship with an elderly Russian woman in a refugee camp.
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
What is safeguarding?
“Safeguarding, not just in sport, but in all walks of life, is making sure that policies are put in place that make sure your child is safe; when they attend a football club, a tennis club, that there are welfare officers at clubs who are qualified to a standard to make sure your child is safe in that environment,” Derek Bell explains.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Sweet%20Tooth
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
Which products are to be taxed?
To be taxed:
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
SPEC SHEET
Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz
Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core
Memory: 8/12GB RAM
Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
Platform: Android 12
Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW
Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps
Front camera: 40MP f/2.2
Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
I/O: USB-C
SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano
Colours: burgundy, green, phantom black, phantom white, graphite, sky blue, red
Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
RESULT
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
