To Light a Candle
Realizador Maziar Bahari
Países United Kingdom, United States
Duração 53 min
Sinopse
Through personal stories and dramatic archive footage, To Light a Candle gives a powerful account of the Baha’i people in Iran, a religious minority that builds solidarity, resilience and pride among its people through its passion for education. With the establishment of the underground Baha’i Higher Institute of Education (BIHE) in 1987, the Baha’i faith – which has its roots in Iran – has championed equality and non-violence and garnered support from educationalists around the world to further its aim. Forbidden from attending or teaching at universities in Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution, the students and teachers face enormous obstacles: classes are held at people’s houses in secret, with the threat of arrest part of everyday life. Through compelling interviews, personal stories and exclusive archive material – often smuggled out of Iran at great personal risk – the film shines a light on the community and exposes the brutality of Iran’s extreme religious leaders, who are unwilling to difference in any form, whether it be religious belief or the quest for knowledge. To Light a Candle is a testament not only to the spirit and determination of the Baha’i community in Iran, it highlights how education can play a vital role in supporting communities and sustaining hope.
Through personal stories and dramatic archive footage, To Light a Candle gives a powerful account of the Baha’i people in Iran, a religious minority that builds solidarity, resilience and pride among its people through its passion for education. With the establishment of the underground Baha’i Higher Institute of Education (BIHE) in 1987, the Baha’i faith – which has its roots in Iran – has championed equality and non-violence and garnered support from educationalists around the world to further its aim. Forbidden from attending or teaching at universities in Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution, the students and teachers face enormous obstacles: classes are held at people’s houses in secret, with the threat of arrest part of everyday life. Through compelling interviews, personal stories and exclusive archive material – often smuggled out of Iran at great personal risk – the film shines a light on the community and exposes the brutality of Iran’s extreme religious leaders, who are unwilling to difference in any form, whether it be religious belief or the quest for knowledge. To Light a Candle is a testament not only to the spirit and determination of the Baha’i community in Iran, it highlights how education can play a vital role in supporting communities and sustaining hope.