Rajeh Inside Iran is a captivating documentary that explores the lives of ordinary Iranians living in the populous city of Tehran. Rajeh Omaar seeks to weave the political and social in a quest to reveal Iran’s transformation. Rajeh depicts a complex picture of Iran’s society - a society that is awash with individuals who are rich but does also have massive amounts of poverty. The documentary explores all facets of Iranian life from politics, religion, history, popular culture to women’s rights issues. Omar’s friend who is a music journalist provides a glimpse into Iranian way of life. He notes that Iran is relatively rich and this richness can be observed by people’s perchance for shopping. There however is a class difference that magnifies the challenges imminent in Iranian culture.
One thought provoking aspect of the documentary is how political transformations have shaped Iranian culture and to a larger extent the economy. The transformations are illuminated by Rajeh’s trip to South Tehran. Rajeh notes that political power is concentrated in South Tehran despite the fact that it is the poorer part of the city. Individuals like the former president Ahmadinejad, used promises of prosperity and better living conditions for Iranians to gain political power. He did not fulfil his promises and one in seven Iranians live in poverty. Political and commercial power lies in the nads of the clerics.As the only Shiah Islamic country in the world, Iran’s protective of its culture and religious conviction. The interview with a young man called Ahkbar shows that all is not rosy in Iranian society. Young people cannot sound their discontent. If they do they can be accused of a crime and the government will punish individuals who are behind any political protests.
The scene of Rajeh’s tunnel prayer with Ahmadinejad is very telling in that it shows Iran’s sensibility about its image in Western representation. Rajeh as a British journalist is given random and quick access to ahmadinejad that ordinary Iranian journalist might not have the pleasure to enjoy. This scene can be interpreted as the government’s desire to mould its image or as a good welcome gesture to a foreign guest. It is also interesting that Rajeh did not renege with his mission because of this single experience.
The depiction of women in the documentary is also also thought provoking. The fact that women in Tehran get more cosmetic surgeries than in Los Angeles in bewildering considering the fact that most women cover their faces and Iran is a very religious state. Most of the women profiled in the documentary have a favorable view of their state but few see impediments placed by the religious conservative government. The photojournalist and businesswoman believe that Iran has changed for the better while the woman filmmaker shows her frustration with censorship rules that make it impossible for her to exercise her creativity. The fact that one is forced to be creative on in the realm of religious topics is limiting.
In conclusion, Rajeh Omaar presents a complicated picture of Iran. It is a picture of cosmetic surgeries, deep religious conviction, drug addiction and child labor. The picture is that of a society divided between the South and the North, between the wealthy and the poor. Tehran seems to be a place full of hope and despair. The fact that crack cocaine addiction is associated with one of the most deeply religious Islamic cities in the world in both shocking and informative.
Works Cited
Chocolatefish. Rajeh Inside Iran. Veoh. Web 17 May 2016.
