The Snow On The Pines (4th London Iranian Film Festival)

Having uncovered her husband’s shocking secret, Roya, a piano teacher, realises that her marriage has fallen into a crisis. Burdened with this news, she continues her life under new conditions. In the meantime however, she meets a young musician who helps her reach a new understanding of life. This film’s beautiful portrayal of Roya's hardship and subsequent journey has been linked by director Payman Maadi to a childhood experience of wintertime; Maadi believed shaking off the snow from pine trees allowed the trees to breathe. The title alludes to the burden of responsibility shouldered by all human beings. Evocatively filmed in black and white, it scored a best actress award for Mahnaz Afshar as well as best film and best script awards for Maadi at the 2013 Iranian Film Critics Guild Awards.