That Desiree Akhavan is being heralded as the “Iranian Lena Dunham” – as if there can only be one type of female voice – indicates the absolute need for her work, which is hilarious, intelligent, personal and beautifully observed.
A semi-autobiographical piece, Akhavan’s feature debut sees her play Shirin, the creative anomaly in her picture-perfect Persian family. Her struggle to come out as bisexual renders acceptance elusive in every aspect of her life, eventually leading to the destruction of her relationship with the strong-willed Maxine (Rebecca Henderson). Emotionally isolated and confused, Shirin embarks on a series of pansexual escapades, finding that nothing quite fits.
Akhavan’s offbeat, awkward humour brims with pathos, making her observations of hipster Brooklyn life, queer communities and immigrant dynamics equally fascinating.
There’s a wonderful subtlety to the naturalistic direction. Akhavan uses close-ups to show her character’s discomfort, too often disguised by uproarious, self-deprecating humour. This emphasis on emotion and humanity ensures the film never becomes too issue-driven. Instead, it’s about an endlessly watchable woman. Fresh, modern and wonderfully funny, Akhavan proves she doesn’t need any Dunham association to make her relevant; her unique voice is more than enough.