For hundreds of thousands of Iranian Americans, the conflict unfolding in Iran strikes a deeply emotional chord. Many fear for loved ones and worry about the future of a country they once called home.
For Portland filmmaker and entrepreneur Mahsa Darabi, those emotions are deeply personal.
In a recent interview with KGW‑TV, Mahsa shared the story behind her documentary, “Mahsa: The Girl Who Ate Her Way Home,” and how her own journey from Iran to Oregon shaped the film’s message about identity, culture, and belonging.
Watch the KGW8 interview:
HERE
Watch the documentary trailer:
HERE
A Full-Circle Moment
For Mahsa and her family, the screening of the documentary marked a powerful milestone.
Among those watching was her mother, Mariam Darabi, who fled war-torn Iran with her family in 1990. Seeing her daughter’s story unfold on screen was emotional and deeply meaningful.
It was a full-circle moment — a reflection on the journey their family had taken from Iran to Oregon and everything they had built along the way.
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Mahsa was only seven years old when her family began a new life in Oregon. Like many immigrant children, she struggled to find her place in a new culture.
She remembers feeling different from the other kids at school.
Her lunchbox, filled with foods from her Iranian heritage, made her feel self-conscious.
“I felt like the weirdo at school,” she recalls.
But one moment changed her perspective forever.
One day a classmate named Ashley Moore sat beside her during lunch and asked a simple question:
“Can I try your lunch?”
That small act of curiosity turned into a moment of connection — one that would shape Mahsa’s understanding of culture, identity, and belonging.
The Power of Food to Bring People Together
That childhood moment planted a seed that would later grow into something much bigger.
Mahsa eventually founded MAHSA CHAI, inspired by the idea that sharing food and drink can bridge cultures and bring people together.
Through chai, she discovered a way to share her heritage while inviting others to experience it.
She believes that simple human moments — like sharing a meal or a cup of tea — can create understanding between people from very different backgrounds.
“If we can meet each other on a human level,” she says, “we can have a greater impact on the world.”
At a time when the world often feels divided, she believes those shared experiences matter more than ever.
A Documentary Years in the Making
Mahsa began working on the documentary nearly five years ago.
The film became a journey of exploration — not only into her own past, but into cultures that reflected the warmth and resilience she remembered from Iran.
Part of that journey brought her to Mexico City, where she found striking similarities between cultures.
Despite hardships, she encountered communities filled with generosity, hospitality, and strong traditions — qualities that reminded her of home.
Those parallels became a powerful theme throughout the film.
A Story That Became Unexpectedly Timely
When Mahsa first began producing the documentary, she could never have predicted how relevant its message would become.
As global tensions and events unfolded, the film’s themes of identity, displacement, and longing for home resonated even more deeply with audiences.
For many Iranian Americans watching the film, the story reflects a shared experience — balancing life in the United States while maintaining a connection to the country they came from.
Redefining the Meaning of Home
For Mahsa, home is no longer defined by geography alone.
Instead, it lives in the people and community she has built around her.
“My heart is here,” she explains. “It’s in my mother’s eyes, my father, and my community.”
Her story is ultimately about connection — to family, culture, and the human experiences that unite us all.
Her message is simple but powerful:
Be kind to each other.
In a world where differences can sometimes divide us, Mahsa believes the path forward begins with empathy, understanding, and something as simple as sharing a meal.
