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Credit: Lionel Deluv
Medalion Rahimi is the gutsy new kid on the block. The Iranian American has a lot to say, politely, about feminism and culture which makes her performance as Elody in the upcoming film Before I Fall quite fitting. A tale of a popular tight knit group of high school girlfriends on their last day of school turns into tragedy when one dies in a car accident. In a deja vous-like experience Elody’s friend Sam (played by Zoey Deutch) relives the day until she repairs her wrongs. “Being a friend, empathy is everything,” says Rahimi. “It’s the only way we can move forward as a society.”
Before I Fall premiered at Sundance in January. “It was my first time and it was so fun” she gushed. “Almost the entire cast came which was really exciting to hang out with them and watch the film. I’m really happy with how it turned out.” But Rahimi made it to the red carpet by the skin of her teeth darting from the recent Women’s March to the premiere with moments to spare. It wasn’t an option to do one or the other; complacency isn’t an option for her.
But it’s a change of pace today, Rahimi is in LA; “It’s a little cloudy here so I’m perched in a cafe sipping on tea.”
GRAZIA: What resonated with you when you first read the script for Before I Fall?
Rahimi: “I loved that it was about an all female friendship. We call it a girl romance; a romance between the friends. I really appreciated the message it gave to try and be the best person you could be. I think that all of the issues that she [Elody] faces are very real. They’re not sugar coated and hidden by all these unimportant teen issues that I think a lot of other teen movies try and do on ‘finding prince charming.’ In high school you are dealing more with growing up and figuring out who you are and your place in this world. I appreciated that the movie focused more on that than just partying and sex; which is also in the movie (laughs) but it’s not the main focus.”
What was high school like for you?
“High school was overall was (pause)… I was lucky. I think I had a lucky experience at high school. Although I was bullied in the end which was a bit shocking to have that happen compared to [my experience at] the beginning of high school. So the last year was probably the toughest because I lost all of my friends. They completely decided they didn’t want to be my friend anymore and continued to bully me throughout the year because I didn’t mesh with them or fit into their friendship standards. So I think I was on both sides. I was both the popular girl and the loner.”
How did you deal with losing your girlfriends?
“I mean it was tough. I was friends with them since I was 13. I had gone through middle school with them. They were all I knew. You realise that you are sort of alone in this world and you have to be confident with who you are in order for those things not to effect you. It took an emotional toll definitely. But I appreciated it at the same time because it allowed me to find my true friends. People who cared about me and vice versa.”
If you had to create your own group of ultimate girlfriends, who would they be?
“Oh my gosh! One of them would be Michelle Obama. Just because she is an incredible woman. Next would be my mother, because she is a strong independent woman and she has taught me how to be one as well. Then Gloria Steinam. She’s just great. Then someone way out just for fun like Rhianna. She seems like she’d be fun to go on vacations and go out with. She’s got a great style too.”
Following the film’s story line, what specific day would you live again and make a difference to the world?
“The Women’s March! Oh my goodness that was an incredible experience… I wish I could relive that. There was a march at Sundance which was great. Our premier was at the same so I went to the march for an hour then had to rush over to our premier. Because I unfortunately didn’t get to stay for the whole thing I would like to live it again so I could really experience it fully.”
I noticed on your Instagram that you’ve been quite vocal about women’s rights. How does america’s current political landscape make you feel?
“Women are always sort of put second and people don’t want us to fill out potential. We’re not given the opportunities to really show our strength because we have just been pushed to the side for so long. I feel like men have been making decisions for us for ever. It’s sad, it’s a sad time. It’s unfortunate because we were making so much progress under the Obama administration. It’s a difficult time to be a woman but it makes us stronger and motivates you to prove yourself to the world as someone who is capable of a lot.”
What message would you like to send to other young women who may feel marginalised?
Speak up. Women, if they are loud, if they get angry, then we are labeled as a, I don’t know if you’re allowed print this word, but a “Bitch.” Or someones who’s crazy, “You’re a crazy girl, “She’s just a bitch!” Women can be afraid to speak their minds because they don’t want to be labelled. But complacency is bad, if not worse.
How are you feeling about the tightening of American immigration laws given your Iranian decent?
“Luckily [the Muslim Ban] is no longer in effect completely. When I first found out it was upsetting to think that if my family wanted to come and visit us from Iran they could be detained, and vice versa. What happens if I need to travel being an Iranian American? It feels like we are not in 2017. It feels like history is repeating itself. I don’t want our country to sustain the things they did after WWII when the refugees sought asylum and we sent them back. I just don’t want these scary times in history to repeat themselves. We are fighting a good fight and I don’t think we’re going to let that happen. I have hope.”
Bullying is a strong theme in Before I Fall. when it comes to understanding friendship and others, how important is empathy to you?
“Empathy is very important to me. Being an actor it is a personal characteristic that has helped me. Being a friend, empathy is everything. You have to try and understand another persons situation. I listened to this great speech online where this guy was saying you don’t know what’s happening in someone else’s life. There could be things that they don’t talk about that are really effecting them. Trying to have empathy is the only way that we can move forward as a society. People who don’t have empathy are the monsters we are encountering in todays political climate. Trump is a person who doesn’t have empathy. Those are the people who don’t have empathy. Those are the people we should be afraid of.”
Before I Fall has a diverse casting of women.what do you think this says about the industry adn how far do we have to go?
“They’re making a more conscious choice to create diversity because that reflects real life. My friends and I in high school all looked different, and came from different backgrounds. The industry is doing a good job of trying to be more conscious of that now, but it still has a way to go.”
What’s in the pipeline for you now?
“I’ve been working on a show it’s untitled right now but it will be out some time this year based on Romeo and Juliette. Stay tuned for that. I’m looking forward to more opportunities to travel, and become politically involved. Another great movie would be wonderful (laughs).”
Before I Fall is in Australian cinemas March 16.
