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AGA BIBI—Today this, tomorrow that
AGA BIBI is a fashion brand driven by the vision of Mehrnoush Shahhosseini—an architect, designer, storyteller and the creative team lead behind AGA BIBI. Born in 1973 in Tehran, she grew up as the youngest of a five-member family, with two older brothers. Her father was a university professor of literature and her mother was…
Through the curious world of her viral videos, Ella Lotfi seeks to break barriers and redefine movement.
Ella Lotfi’s instagram lately begs a lot of questions. In one video, she’s at the gym using a chest press with her legs, and in another, she climbs a staircase in a manner that can only be described as being akin to an upside-down spider, while 2 other guys fall down the same staircase like…
Lost but Not Forgotten: Reviving Iran’s Flavors
I had the opportunity to speak with Shahrzad Shokouhivand, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu pastry school, founder of L'Atelier de Shahrzad and Femme Chic Patisserie, the first Iranian to receive the esteemed L’Ordre du Mérite Agricole. As a visionary pastry chef and entrepreneur, she has been instrumental in reviving Iran’s forgotten flavors and bringing…

Last Swim: A Journey of Youth, Identity, and Irreversible Choices

Last Swim, directed by Sasha Nathwani, is a film centered around Ziba, a British-Iranian teenager played by Deba Hekmat. Ziba is an ambitious and brainy teenager from London, who takes great pride in her Iranian roots. On the day she receives her A-level results, she leads her friends through an eventful journey across the city, with plans to witness a rare astronomical event. However, beneath the joyful surface, Ziba is secretly struggling to hold onto her usual optimism, as she grapples with personal fears and hidden secrets. As the day turns into night, she must confront the irreversible decision she has set for the end of this final day of untainted adolescence.

The movie is set to have its domestic premiere at the London Film Festival in October, with a theatrical release scheduled for early 2025. This film is a celebration of youth and serves as a love letter to London. It tells a coming-of-age story from the perspective of a British-Iranian girl, taking place across London on a hot summer’s day. The soundtrack also features songs by the Iranian singer Koroush Yaghmaei, adding a rich cultural layer to this vibrant narrative.

During the 74th Berlinale, Last Swim won a Crystal Bear for the Best Film. The jury described the film as “a story about the beauty of life and of things coming to an end. A film that does not shy away from portraying the messy and consuming feelings that can arise when you know your dreams may not be fulfilled. However, it also invites the viewer into the joyful and lively world of a teenager and her friends as they celebrate their youth.”

Categories: Film
Tags: Last Swim
Aryana Davani: