Through films like The May Lady and Mainline, she gives voice to women struggling with autonomy, addiction, motherhood, and identity in a patriarchal society. Unlike more metaphor-driven filmmakers, Banietemad leans toward realism, focusing on the tangible and immediate issues women face. Her characters speak plainly, sometimes boldly, and their emotional lives unfold in intimate, believable detail. She never presents women as mere victims or symbols—they are complex, contradictory, and deeply human.
