‘Shayda’ a Testament to the Power of Moms

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In addition to talking about big blockbusters, I also like to talk about smaller movies that don’t get a lot of attention but are worth checking out. One of those movies is Shayda, directed by Noora Niasari.

The story is about Shayda, an Iranian mother (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) and her young daughter Mona (Selina Zahednia) who are living in a women’s shelter in Australia after escaping from abusive ed-husband Hossein (Osamah Sami). Shayda is trying to give her daughter a normal life and a fresh start to their lives together, but she’s juggling so much both in terms of her legal situation and emotionally recovering from what she’s been through.

With a quiet and reflective tone, Shayda really gives us a chance to live in the emotions of the characters. There’s also an underlying tension in every scene because you know Hossein could show up at any moment and wreak havoc on the fledgling life that Shayda is building.

The story is semi-autobiographical and a testament to the strength of moms and all that they do for their children. Shayda is both strong and vulnerable, but she’s also just doing her best and making her own life for the first time. 

The lead performance from Amir Ebrahimi is spectacular and Zahednia is incredible—especially for someone so young. Her big, expressive eyes reach into your heart in every scene.

Shayda might be a harder movie to find, but if it’s available to you, it’s a great one to watch with your mom and appreciate moms everywhere.