Set on fire, thrown from cars: Iran’s women stunt performers break barriers
A group of female stunt performers in Tehran is challenging traditional gender roles in the Iranian film industry. Led by Nasrin Teymouri, the all-female crew performs dangerous stunts that were previously reserved for men.
Why it matters
The rise of female stunt performers in Iran reflects shifting social norms and the increasing professional agency of women in conservative societies.
TEHRAN, Oct 9 — As evening falls at a Tehran skatepark, a woman calmly steps forward with her body ablaze, performing a daring stunt that challenges convention in front of an impressed Iranian audience.
Behind her, young women practise backward flips into a pit filled with foam, following the instructions of Nasrin Teymouri.
In her thirties, she leads Iran’s sole all-female stunt crew, a vital area of filmmaking traditionally controlled by men, but where Iranian women are increasingly establishing themselves.
“Until just a few years ago, men used to dress up as women to perform stunts in place of actresses,” said Teymouri with a smile, as she received AFP at a training session for the “Stunt Powerful” team in southern Tehran.
On graffiti-decorated ramps, a young girl wearing roller skates practises a few moves, while a young man gets ready to perform a stunt on his BMX bicycle.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in