The Dawn Is Too Far

Presented by Peyvand nonprofit organization and UW MELC.

Join us for an exclusive screening of the acclaimed documentary The Dawn is Too Far: Stories of Iranian-American Life, co-produced and directed by Professor Persis Karim. This compelling film delves into the powerful narratives of individuals from the Bay Area Iranian diaspora community, highlighting their contributions and creative responses to their history, enriching the cultural tapestry of the region.

As many Americans have witnessed the courage and tenacity of the “Woman. Life. Freedom” movement in Iran that erupted (and continues today) in autumn 2022 following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police, far fewer know the story of those Iranians who immigrated to the U.S. in previous decades. The past 45 years, since the Iranian revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, have been turbulent and challenging for Iranians not only because many cannot return to Iran, but because they experience their losses doubly in the ways that Iran and its people have been vilified and misrepresented in the U.S. media.

Punitive policies such as the “Muslim Travel Ban” (instituted under the Trump Administration) have separated families and current policies make it difficult for Iranians to get a visa to come to the U.S. for education or to visit family. This film seeks to explore the tumultuous history of U.S.-Iran relations through the individual stories featured in The Dawn is Too Far; but rather than characterizing solely as victims of government policy and misinformation, they share their journeys and tell a more complex and nuanced story.

At a time when immigrants, primarily from black and brown communities—from Mexico, to the Caribbean, and the Middle East—have been vilified and stereotyped as criminals, drug-runners and terrorists, it is especially important to hear the real story of immigrants. Iranian and Arab Americans and those from across the Middle East, have been overshadowed by decades of news headlines that portray them not as they are, but as politicians and mainstream media want to see them: as enemies and foreigners.