The Freedom Trap
A former political prisoner leads his interrogator and torturer straight into a trap. Soon he will stand before the court to - in front of about 50 witnesses and a whole world - anstwer questions about his role in the mass executions of 4,000 prisoners in Iran in the summer of 1988 and where the mass graves are located.
BASIC INFO
Release date: 2025
Format: 4K
Lenght: 58 & 90 minutes
The Freedom Trap is a gripping documentary that chronicles the decades-long pursuit of justice by two individuals whose lives were forever changed by the mass executions in Iran during the 1980s. One is a grieving brother, Nima Sarvestani (the director of the film), who lost his teenage brother to the brutal regime, and the other is Iraj Mesdaghi, a former political prisoner who survived the horrors of imprisonment and torture under Ayatollah Khomeini’s reign. Both men, exiled from their homeland, have dedicated their lives to holding those responsible for the atrocities accountable.
The film follows their relentless mission, which spans across continents, as they track down members of the notorious "Death Committees" responsible for the summary trials and executions of thousands of political dissidents. Their investigation leads to the historic arrest of Hamid Noury, a key executioner, in Stockholm, Sweden, marking the first time an Iranian official stands trial in Europe for crimes committed during that era. This unprecedented trial takes place against a backdrop where the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its grim legacy, carrying out daily executions to suppress dissent and silence voices of opposition, regardless of where individuals live.
The Freedom Trap delves into the emotional and psychological toll on families who have lived with decades of unanswered questions, grief, and fear. It also highlights the significance of Noury’s trial in the broader context of international justice and the importance of historical memory in preventing future atrocities. Through personal narratives and legal triumphs, the film reveals the enduring fight for justice and the power of persistence.
Hamid Noury, a former Iranian official, was one of the key figures involved in the so-called "Death Committees" and is accused of playing a direct role in the mass executions of political prisoners in Iran during the 1980s. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Stockholm District Court, a verdict later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
From a total of over 1,000 hours of audio and video material, we created an
85-minute version that will have its world premiere in Stockholm in early March 2025.
Var finns alla polarna?
En film om Farsta ungdomsgård.
Vid första ögonkastet träffade Hasse livets kärlek, Lena. De hängde med ett gäng ungdomar som höll till vid nordens största ungdomsgård i Farsta på tidigt på 70-tal.
Hasse och Lenas bästa vän Lennart, berättar att saknaden av honom är ännu idag enorm.
En dag fick Hasse nog. Han hade precis varit och köpt ett paket glass. Han ställde ner glasspaketet på bordet, tittade på Lena som låg i soffan och slängde en snabb blick ut genom fönstret. Han såg en polisbil närma sig nere på gatan. Än en gång skulle han få besök. Lagens arm var ingen främling i hans liv, både han och hans kamrater var alltför vana vid deras närvaro, utanför fritidsgården eller i tunnelbanans vänthall. Men den här dagen blev hans sista.
Hasse och Lena
BASIC INFO
Release date: 2025
Format: 4K
Lenght: 58 minutes