Class Has Begun (Freedom Is Coming)
Director Ashley Beroukhim
United States
Runtime 3:50
Completion Date: October 13, 2023
Written from the perspective of a schoolgirl in Iran, "Kelaas Shuru Shod (Class has Begun)" is an international Iranian-Reggaton song about freedom and honoring the brave, young women/students who are leading Iran's #WomanLifeFreedom Revolution. Dancing is one of many things that us illegal under the Islamic Republic regime... therefore I had to create an emboldening dance project.
“Kelaas Shuru Shod” (Freedom is Coming) was treated like a short film to document a historical point in time and represent an entire revolution in another country – this wasn’t just an emotional music video, it needed to be a story with an impact.
Director Ashley Zarah
Ashley Zarah is an Iranian artist born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Her Iranian-influenced pop music represents the sound of “Iranian-America,” where she fuses musical traditions from around the world to joyously heal trauma while highlighting the distinct beauty of Persian culture. She has been featured in world-renowned editorials such as The Hype Magazine, NPR's Sound Opinions, GirlTalk HQ, BuzzMusic LA, The Persian Observer and more – and continues to use her platform to represent the people, particularly the women, of Iran while also being an avid advocate for mental health awareness and women's rights specifically in the Middle East.
Project Links
