Rehearsals for a Revolution

How to tell the history of a country when it is inextricably linked to your own family history? In her poignant directorial feature film debut, actress and filmmaker Pegah Ahangarani brings more than forty years of Iranian history to the screen, from the 1979 revolution to the war of 2026. Through five portraits of family members and mentors, she explores various forms of resistance and the people who have shaped her. Using a rich collage of personal archives, family footage, voice recordings, news clips and protest footage, Ahangarani weaves together individual and collective memories. In doing so, she paints a picture of a country marked by political oppression, yet also by an enduring desire for change. Rehearsals for a Revolution is at once a family story, a self-portrait and a chronicle of a country in which generations continue to hope for a revolution that is repeatedly postponed.

In 2026, Willemsfonds, a socio-cultural volunteer organisation, is placing human rights at the heart of its activities. Fundamental rights are under pressure worldwide. Through a film series supported by deMens.nu, Willemsfonds is drawing attention to human rights and their significance in our daily lives. Following the screening on 12 October, Jasmine Malekzadem and Mahdieh Fahimi will discuss the situation in Iran, where various human rights are being violated.