On the 6th of December, the M4 class had the privilege of speaking with Tahmina Rafaella, a young, Azerbaijani filmmaker. Her  most recent film is called “Icheri Sheher”, or “Inner City”, and is about a female Azerbaijani pianist who has difficulties following her dreams due to her parents and her culture’s restrictions. In the film, Tahmina uses a variety of techniques to create the main character, Arzu. Arzu is a loud character growing up, but is softened by her mother and made to follow the social norms of what an Azerbaijani woman should be. However, after meeting and falling in love with an older intellectual, Arzu “grows up spiritually” and fights against the restrictions. Tahmina mentioned how the future of protest relies on social media, in movements like Standing with Standing Rock or #BlackLivesMatter, and how making protest more accessible for everyone in the world is empowering marginalised groups.

Selin (M4 student)