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.

Against a harsh backdrop of gritty spaces, a strict culture, unrequited love, and concealment, each day is an exhausting struggle for Maryam, who has multiple jobs and two children to raise alone. Steadfast emotional privacy has been the key to survival. When one child falls ill, Maryam is forced to let people in, causing long-held secrets to be exposed, revealing previous relationships from a complicated past—and a transgender identity. This honest glimpse into one person’s struggles against poverty and prejudice is a reminder of the persistence of life within us all.

A story writer named Jahangir Golestaneh married Ra’ana a few years ago. They have a son named Nima who is 6 years old. Jahangir has published three books but he has not earned any money from his books. The family lives in a rental house that its owner is an old friend of Jahangir. It does not take long for the old friend to call Jahangir and say that he plans to settle in his house. This news disrupts Jahangir’s life.