Maryam Boubani

In Iran, the retired dance teacher Tarlan witnesses her friend Rana's murder by her husband, who is an important government figure. When the police refuse to investigate, Tarlan must decide whether to bow to political pressure or risk her reputation and livelihood in pursuit of justice.

Harun suffers from his dreams, causing him mental anguish. This is the result of his experiences as a warrior in the civil war. He seeks a cure for his illness, uses traditional and religious methods, goes to an elderly woman to get a tattoo on his hand. If he loses blood from the tattoo, he thinks he will be fine that way. She had an only son who was killed in the war. This would be the beginning of a new story in the lives of Aaron and Mary. They embark on a journey to find the body of Mary's son, who was killed in the war. Mary's son was supposed to get married before going to war. When they find his body, they take him back to their village and celebrate his wedding and funeral in one ceremony.

Connects seven stories of children facing different forms of violence, exploring how unresolved childhood trauma can lead to struggles in adulthood, perpetuating a cycle of hurt and harmful behavior.

On her wedding night, Rojan, a 14-year-old Kurdish girl who is forced to marry with an old man takes a dangerous decision to set herself free.

In a small village outside Sanandaj, 60-year-old Maryam is waiting for her son Farhad's return from military service. One day, Farhad turns up at her door, wearing a chador, and tells her that he is now living as a woman.

A suicide pharmacy owner tries to delay the suicide of the only midwife in his city until after his pregnant wife gives birth. Out of his efforts comes a novel suicide method that can revive his customers’ will to live.

Struggling to make ends meet, a single mother caters the funerals and weddings of the rich. But her daughter has different ideas about her mother’s job.

Roja is a teenage village girl who is forced to marry a religious old man for blood money. On their wedding night, the husband demands to have sex with Roja against her will. Running against time, and with the help of a close friend, she embarks on a desperate lonely journey towards hope and emancipation.

Rojda, a native of Iraqi Kurdistan and a soldier in the German army, travels to a refugee camp in Greece where she manages to meet her mother, who has bad news about her sister Dilan.

The story is set in a tiny Kurdish village. Isa’s younger brother is murdered and brought back to his hometown. Two weeks after the funeral, his mother Zîn dreams of giving a wedding celebration for her deceased son. This strange idea sparks off a host of contradictory feelings within her, and between her and Isa and family members, who are still reeling from the trauma and grief of losing a brother. The family gradually proceeds into a grey area in their relationship. These ordinary people find themselves living in a psychological minefield wrestling on the planes between logic, norms, emotions, and irrationality.