In Search of the Lost Voice

“In Search of the Lost Voice" follows Taees Gheirati, an Iranian woman who is an ethnomusicology PhD student, on her quest to uncover and preserve the rich musical heritage of women in Eastern Khorasan, Iran. Inspired by childhood memories of female gatherings filled with song and dance, and at the onset of the 2022 Iranian women’s protests against the systematic discriminations, Taees embarks on a journey to find Soraya, a mesmerizing woman singer from her past.

Upon her arrival, she learns that Soraya has recently passed on. Since women are not allowed to sing publicly in Iran, and the society also disdains women’s singing, there is no official recording of Soraya’s voice. Known to only a few people, Soraya has passed on, taking her voice with her forever. Although saddened by the news, Taees decides to direct her quest toward other unknown women singers in her birthplace who are trying to make their voices last by singing illicitly.

She looks for these women in different regions of Khorasan. She finds four women from four different generations particularly interesting: Ala, a 13-year-old singer and musician; Zeinab, a 38-year-old music teacher; Khaseh, a middle-aged singer living in a village; and an elderly woman with the same name as Soraya, the initiator of the story, and almost as old before she died.

As Taees delves into her research, she encounters both setbacks and unexpected discoveries. The documentary weaves together historical context, personal narratives, and the evolving female musicianship in Iran. From the pre-Islamic era to the post-1979 Islamic Revolution, the film explores the resilience and adaptability of women artists navigating cultural and religious restrictions.

While each of these artists recites her story of perusing such an art form in a misogynistic society, they strife to revive one of Soraya’s songs. Each one of them sings one of Soraya’s songs. Therefore, Soraya’s voice comes back to life through their throats. Throughout her journey with these women, Taees is also learning to sing. The four women singers are her mentors throughout her journey.

The film also captures the generational shift in attitudes towards women's artistic expression, contrasting the experiences of elder singers like Khaseh with those of younger artists like Ala. Through visits to nomadic communities and local music festivals, the documentary paints a vivid picture of a culture in transition, where ancient traditions intersect with modern aspirations.