A mother's journey to escape domestic abuse, rebuild her life, and protect her daughter's cultural identity through trauma and resilience.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Airport Drill & Shelter Arrival
Shayda and Mona practice escape drills at an airport before settling into a women's shelter run by Joyce. The cramped conditions and Mona's trauma set a tense foundation for their new life.
Key Events
Airport Escape Drill — Shayda teaches Mona to run to security to escape potential kidnapping. Characters: Shayda, MonaLocation: Airport
Shelter Arrival — Shayda and Mona settle into the cramped but safe shelter run by Joyce. Characters: Shayda, Mona, JoyceLocation: Women's Shelter
Interpreter Session — Joyce and Shayda document her abuse testimony with an interpreter's help. Characters: Shayda, JoyceLocation: Shelter Office
Mona's Nightmares — Mona suffers from trauma-induced nightmares and bedwetting. Characters: Mona, ShaydaLocation: Shelter Bedroom
Navigating Visits & Cultural Roots
Court-ordered visits with Hossein begin, introducing legal pressure and psychological manipulation. Meanwhile, Shayda preserves Iranian traditions like Nowruz and builds friendships with Elly and Lara.
Nowruz Preparation — Shayda cooks traditional dishes and teaches Mona about Nowruz traditions. Characters: Shayda, MonaLocation: Shelter Kitchen
Lara's Arrival — New resident Lara arrives, expanding the shelter's community. Characters: Shayda, Lara, JoyceLocation: Shelter Common Area
Club Night & Farhad — Shelter women and Elly go to a club where Shayda meets cousin Farhad. Characters: Shayda, Elly, Lara, FarhadLocation: Night Club
Chaharshanbe Suri Visit — Shayda overcomes fear to take Mona to celebrate the Persian fire festival. Characters: Shayda, Elly, MonaLocation: Park
Hossein's Escalation — Hossein becomes abusive during pickups, chases Joyce's car, and threatens kidnapping. Characters: Hossein, Mona, ShaydaLocation: Visitation Site
Hossein's False Promises — Hossein tries to win Mona over with gifts and claims he has changed. Characters: Hossein, MonaLocation: Visitation Site
Police Reunites Lara's Son — Police locate Lara's son, who moves into the shelter, easing her burden. Characters: Lara, JoyceLocation: Shelter
Cultural Preservation — Shayda actively preserves Iranian heritage to protect Mona's cultural identity. Characters: Shayda, MonaLocation: Shelter
Escalation & The Shelter Fire
Hossein's behavior turns violent, culminating in a party assault and a deliberate fire that destroys the shelter. The crisis forces the women to relocate and marks a major turning point.
Key Events
Hossein's Escalation — Hossein becomes abusive during pickups, chases Joyce's car, and threatens kidnapping. Characters: Hossein, Mona, ShaydaLocation: Visitation Site
Nowruz Party Assault — Hossein crashes the party and physically assaults Shayda and Farhad. Characters: Shayda, Farhad, Hossein, EllyLocation: Elly's House
Shelter Fire — Arsonists set the shelter ablaze, hospitalizing a resident and forcing relocation. Characters: Shayda, Mona, Joyce, LaraLocation: Women's Shelter
Relocation & Nursing — Women move to safer housing while Shayda begins studying nursing. Characters: Shayda, Mona, JoyceLocation: New Accommodation
Lion King Promise — Hossein promises to take Mona to see The Lion King but uses the time to spy. Characters: Hossein, MonaLocation: Visitation Site
Relocation & Prison Reunion
The women move to safer housing while Shayda pursues nursing studies. Hossein's imprisonment brings a temporary sense of security, leading to a structured prison visit with Mona.
Key Events
Relocation & Nursing — Women move to safer housing while Shayda begins studying nursing. Characters: Shayda, Mona, JoyceLocation: New Accommodation
Prison Visit — Shayda and Joyce bring Mona to visit Hossein, who is now serving his sentence. Characters: Shayda, Mona, HosseinLocation: Prison
Next Nowruz — Shayda and Mona open presents together, symbolizing stability and healing. Characters: Shayda, MonaLocation: New Home
Hossein's Imprisonment — Hossein is incarcerated, removing the immediate physical threat from Shayda's life. Characters: HosseinLocation: Prison
A New Nowruz & Healing
The following Nowruz brings stability as Shayda and Mona celebrate in their new home. The film closes with intimate home videos, emphasizing resilience and cultural continuity.
Key Events
Next Nowruz — Shayda and Mona open presents together, symbolizing stability and healing. Characters: Shayda, MonaLocation: New Home
Director's Montage — Film concludes with home video recordings of mother and daughter celebrating Nowruz. Characters: Shayda, MonaLocation: Various Locations
Story Breakdown
Survival & Escape — The initial phase focuses on establishing safety protocols and relocating to a secure environment after fleeing an abusive marriage.
Airport Safety Drill — Mother and daughter practice escape routes to prevent kidnapping.
Shelter Relocation — Transition to a women's shelter provides temporary physical safety.
Legal & Custody Battles — Court-ordered visitation rights force the protagonist to maintain contact with the abuser, creating ongoing psychological strain.
Court-Ordered Visits — Weekly unsupervised meetings are mandated by the judicial system.
False Reconciliation Attempts — The abuser uses gifts and promises to manipulate the child.
Shelter Community & Culture — Shared living spaces foster sisterhood and cultural preservation as coping mechanisms against trauma.
Nowruz Traditions — Preparing the haft-sin table reinforces cultural identity.
Sisterhood & Divination — Reading poetry and dancing builds emotional bonds among residents.
Romantic & Social Connections — New relationships provide emotional relief and a glimpse of normalcy outside the shelter walls.
Friendship with Elly — A trusted friend offers cultural grounding and social gatherings.
Cousin Farhad's Romance — A supportive cousin becomes a romantic interest and dance partner.
Violence & Arson Crisis — The abuser's aggression escalates beyond verbal threats, resulting in physical assault and property destruction.
Party Assault — The abuser crashes a celebration and attacks the protagonist.
Shelter Fire & Relocation — Arson forces the community to evacuate and find new housing.
Healing & New Beginnings — Stability returns as the protagonist pursues education and the abuser faces legal consequences.
Nursing Studies — Enrolling in university marks a step toward financial independence.
Prison Visitation — Structured visits confirm the abuser's incarceration and reduced threat.
Cinematic Resolution — The narrative concludes with reflective imagery that emphasizes continuity, healing, and the preservation of family bonds.
Next Nowruz Celebration — Opening presents together symbolizes restored domestic peace.
Director's Home Videos — Archival footage captures authentic moments of mother and daughter.
Shayda, a young Iranian woman living in Australia, finds refuge in a women’s shelter with her 6-year-old daughter, Mona. Having fled her husband, Hossein, and filed for divorce, Shayda struggles to maintain normalcy for Mona. Buoyed by the approach of Nowruz, she tries to forge a fresh start with new and unfettered freedoms. But when a judge grants Hossein visitation rights, he reenters their life, stoking Shayda’s fear that he’ll attempt to take Mona back to Iran.
