The Witness

In Iran, retired dance teacher Tarlan witnesses her friend Zara’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 everything in pursuit of justice.

Tarlan is a respected and retired dance teacher, and a politically active figure – she once was imprisoned for her outspoken views. Her younger friend Zara runs her own dance studio. She is practically a foster daughter to Tarlan, who also has her own daughter, Ghazal. The three women each experienced a different era of Iranian history. Tarlan spent her youth prior to the rise of the Islamic Republic. Zara grew up in the period following the establishment of the regime, while Ghazal’s youth is marked by the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ revolutionary movement.

Zara’s husband Solat, who holds a high government position, is increasingly unhappy about her dancing – and he shares his disapproval online. Solat’s pressure on Zara to become a traditional housewife increases and takes a more and more violent turn. While Tarlan tries to reconcile the two, she is drawn into a web of lies. Ultimately she has to choose between risking her own life in pursuit of the truth, or safety in complicity.