Original subtitles

Please! Let me in! Let me in!

They lied to us! They lied to us!

They lied to us!

Let me in!

Azar Nafisi. Born in Tehran, 1948.

Provisional Revolutionary and Islamic Government of Iran

ENTRY 03 AUG 1979

Thank you.

Next.

I did my PhD there, in literature.

in literature.

English literature.

What's this?

A novel.

It’s for a course at the university.

I’m going to teach it.

That’s why my husband and I came back.

My husband is a civil engineer.

A bit gentler, please.

Excuse me?

Go.

My heart, my love,

- My life - Mom, I dore you.

- You’re so beautiful. - Bijan...

Hello.

You can kiss now!

Welcome.

- Shall we? - Let’s go. We’re in the way.

Faculty of Letters & Humanities

Death to America

Hello.

Professor Nafisi.

Mr. Bahri.

Good morning.

How’s your English doing?

Good.

Really?

Yes. Very observant. Very sensitive.

Congrats, I’m impressed.

Take your seat. Class will start soon.

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

Professor, I don’t understand.

How can you say Gatsby’s in love with Daisy?

Clearly, he’s in love with the green dollars.

Daisy is just a symbol, that’s all.

What use is love in today’s world?

We believe only in divine, holy love, nothing else.

Right, so why did you make a revolution?

Because we could...

I think I didn’t understand.

It means we should doubt the prohibition of adultery!

You’re saying change is always bad?

It’s not funny.

If laws are broken while writing a story,

penalties must be invoked!

What’s funny about that?

He’s not referring to you, professor. Sorry.

Some things should be completely ignored.

You won’t find a virtuous woman in this entire story.

And this is supposed to be a role model for our innocent, modest sisters.

The veil, you just want us to wear a veil.

Try it.

What's the problem?

Listen, I don’t like discussing here what I wear.

What you like doesn’t matter, because soon it will be mandatory for all women.

How come only Nyazi talks about morality?

He has no right to do so at all!

Look...

Forget it, no need to read from the paper. It’s not worth it.

I have enough evidence.

Every page of this book shows how we were raped

by the Big Satan.

"They seek to deceive Allah and those who have faith,

yet they deceive no one but themselves, but are not aware"

The only interesting person in this story

is the defeated, spineless Mr. Wilson

who killed Gatsby.

And even that was God’s doing.

Not everything is God’s doing.

Do you really believe God is meddling with our lives?

How can you use such a word? "Meddling"?

It’s not meddling. God is observing our lives.

Declare this book banned!

You came and changed all the laws! What law are you talking about?

- Back off. - I won’t back off!

- Your brain is rotten! - My brain is rotten?

- Exactly! - Shame on you!

- They’re all rotten here! - They want to close us down! Come out!

Let's go.

Freedom is our right!

Neither East, nor West! Islamic university!

Samad is our teacher! His way is our way!

Freedom is our right!

Did you see that?

Nassrin! Mahtab!

Let go! I’m not going with you!

Ma’am! Let’s go! Come this way! This way.

Nassrin! Mahtab!

Professor Nafisi!

There was nothing you could do.

That’s one of my students! She’s only seventeen!

Come in, come in!

- Quickly, quickly! - Thanks Mohssen.

Stay away from the windows!

Nassiri Cafe

Thanks.

I’m Azar. Nafisi.

I know you.

Aren’t you in the drama department?

I was.

Oh...

The play I chose wasn’t approved.

So the writer must have been immoral…

No, this time the objection came from the leftists.

Obviously, you must study revolutionary works.

If that was so, there’d be something to discuss.

But I told them clearly,

my syllabus was non-negotiable.

Oh là là…

I think we can go.

What will you do now If you won’t teach anymore?

I don’t know.

Perhaps start the novel I always wanted to write,

see what happens next or do nothing at all.

You tell me what to do...

The tension at our border with Iraq continues.

Tehran University continues to witness student violence..

The continuous radical activity on the campus

led to the arrest of over 40 students

However, the security forces refrained from using force

against the agitators...

I called their parents. I couldn’t reach anyone.

They were probably taken to Evin prison.

I must go there.

Don't.

I’m serious.

Their families are there.

There’s nothing you can do.

You’ll just be on their radar.

Aren’t I already?

Bijan...

Stop! Stop hitting me!

That hurts!

Oh God! Stop!

Mama, please! Where are you?

They’re killing me!

Enough, stop!

Emamzadeh.

Rahmati.

Rahimi.

Don’t worry, be strong.

Go.

Go.

Evin House of Detention

Following a directive from our beloved supreme leader Imam Khomeini,

the Parliament approved and passed the Islamic Hijab Law,

making it compulsory for women

from the age of 9 to wear the Hijab in public,

including all government institutions, work places,

universities, schools...

Purify the curriculum Administrative Revolution

Ma’am!

Your ID, please.

You know you can’t go in like this.

I’ve been going in "like this" ever since I started teaching here.

Now you must cover your hair.

I’m authorized to stop any woman without a hijab.

I’m not "any woman," I’m a specific woman.

A professor at this university.

It’s a written order from the university president.

No woman can enter the university without a hijab.

Ma’am...

You know what’ll happen to me if you go in like this?

As far as I know, we’re each responsible for our own actions, no?

So, excuse me.

You’re kidding.

Ma’am, stop!

Forget it, man!

Ma’am!

Ma’am!

The adulterous whore Nafisi should be expelled

Professor Nafisi?

I’m sorry.

The university president wants to talk to you.

I want you to know that I sided with you.

Why?

Because women’s role is essential to the success of the Islamic Republic.

Our enemies within and without must see

that men and women here are united.

And...

because of the books we read.

Wait, professor.

Please.

The survival of this revolution is in danger...

Mr. Bahri.

My grandmother was the most devout Muslim I’ve ever known.

She always did the dawn prayer on time.

She wore the veil because she was a believer,

not as a symbol.

Religion and State are not the same.

Not to her,

not to me.

Tell that to the president of your university.

Hello.

Where to?

I have a meeting with the university president.

What are you wearing underneath?

Almost nothing.

Why is that any business of yours?

Rub the muck off your face.

There’s nothing on my face and I never put "muck" on.

There’s something.

- Ma’am, that hurts. - Don’t talk back!

I’ll file a complaint against you.

Do whatever you damn want.

Go.

Fourth floor!

Fourth floor!

Did you imagine this could happen?

No, I didn’t.

But I should have.

What’ll we do now?

We’ll go to sleep and tomorrow we’ll see what can be done.

Coming?

Yes, a bit later...

Mahtab...

Eight members of the reactionary Forghan group were executed.

Mahtab Rahimi.

Hello.

I don’t know why I decided to do this.

It’s too risky.

I’m putting all the girls in danger.

I should cancel it.

Right?

You can’t.

What if someone finds out?

What if someone reports us?

My dear, they all know

this is forbidden and dangerous.

But just like you, they like the risk.

That’s exactly what scares me.

These women trust your courage.

Always have.

Exactly like when you taught them at the university.

What if they don’t show up?

They will.

Every Thursday.

Even if stones fall from the sky.

Trust me.

So now I’ve reached the point where I should trust you?

Thank you.

I’m glad you called.

I’m glad you answered.

Now go sleep for a while before they arrive.

Sleep, I wish...

- Bless you. -Talk soon.

Feeling better?

Yes.

Don’t worry.

Negar! Dara!

- Want me to stay? - Hurry up!

No.

I promised there’d be no men in the house...

I’m sure it will be wonderful.

Listen to your grandma!

Negar, remember not to read too fast the poem we learned.

Thank you, mom.

Dara, take your schoolbag.

Azar dear, please be very careful.

Don’t worry.

Dara, eat your apple.

OK, Mama.

Bijan, I’m sure you’ll get the project.

Following requests from the public and the government’s efforts,

the price of milk…

Thank you.

There you go, Dad.

Thank you.

I should go.

There won’t be any men there, right?

Mahshid and I are translating Islamic texts into English.

We don’t need men for that.

Take care.

Of course. Bye.

Bye.

She’s used to your absence.

She doesn’t cry anymore.

Wouldn’t you like a mother who stays home with you?

Enough, Reza!

Mama will be back soon.

I still think it’s not fair.

Life isn’t fair.

Maybe you’re right. This isn’t fair.

What? No.

How else will you become the next Forough Farrokhzad?

"Everybody knows that you and I

looked through the oblique crack of the wall

and saw the garden."

and saw the garden."

Hello Mahshid!

Hello.

Hello ma’am.

Hello.

Thanks for buying the flowers.

Hello.

I’m so happy to see you.

-Me too. What’s up with you? -Good.

-It’s apartment three, right? -Yes.

Are we the first ones here?

I don’t know, why?

Do you know who else is coming?

Azin too?

You don’t like her?

Not really. I hope she’s not invited.

But she’s cool! She’s been married three times!

We don’t even have a boyfriend.

They’re beautiful. Lovely.

Welcome, come in.

Did you find the place easily?

Please.

Look at the mountains.

Beautiful. Sublime.

- My husband’s at work. Feel at ease. - Thank you.

Thank you.

Nassrin dear, welcome.

You remember Mahshid. Yassi is here too.

Your mother let us in.

Welcome.

These are from Nima and me.

He said, “you ladies are very fortunate.”

- How is he? - Good.

Azin, my dear.

Am I late?

- No, dear. - No, I’m not late.

Come in, welcome.

Girls...

this is Sanaz, one of my best students at Allameh University.

Hello.

- Nice to meet you. - Have a seat.

Alright.

I was really worried that I might have gotten you into trouble.

I hope your families don’t mind that you’re here now.

"Something" was already in here...

We’re all together.

Okay, so...

this "morality teacher" draws two columns on the blackboard.

"Muslim girl" on one side and "Christian girl" on the other.

Then he asks, what’s the difference between them?

"One is a virgin, clean and pure,

who keeps herself only for her husband.

She is powerful because she’s modest."

Of course, modesty gives you a certain amount of power.

- Like... - Like what?

Not being a whore who wears nail polish and sneakers?

No, no, I didn’t mean it like that…

I meant a person who is reserved.

Hello, Sanaz dear,

Hello.

Sorry I’m late again. My brother insisted on coming with me and then…

We missed you last week.

- Did something happen? - No.

Hello.

We missed you. Where were you?

Are you Okay?

Yes.

- Thanks. - Girls, Sanaz brought us sweets.

Wow, they’re so "poshlost"...

That’s why you got them, right?

Since we’re reading Lolita, you wanted...

These are so good!

They’re great, but...

Thank you.

Okay, girls.

Not all.

I, Sanaz Moghadam, confess to having an illegitimate relationship with a man.

I broke Islamic law, betrayed my family’s honor and my self respect.

How do you escape the guilt?

They should be ashamed, not us.

How does that help?

They force you to confess to an offense You didn’t commit and say you’ve sinned.

But you haven’t sinned, Sanaz.

Repeat something a thousand times and it starts to replace the truth.

Otherwise, why did they arrest you?

"Who were you with? Who were those men?"

"You didn’t drink alcohol? What were you wearing?"

But they found nothing?

There was nothing to find.

So we accused of “Western cultural invasion”.

And they’re right.

There’s no such thing as a "thought crime."

Of course there is.

Even if I didn’t commit a real crime,

I betrayed myself by confessing. I betrayed us all.

I confessed.

I signed.

Sanaz left this behind.

They asked if they were Lolita.

And you said?

That she’s a lonely, defenseless girl,

who endures rape because of a crazy adult obsessed with his own past,

she loses her autonomy, her future, her very self.

That’s precisely what the "bearded guy" did to us here.

Novels are not interpretations of our personal lives.

Why not? Of course they are.

Very often they’re exactly the same.

Those were the days.

I can’t take hope away from them.

I know.

Wow!

Keep it.

Show it to your girls.

Where did you get this?

I’ve had it for some time.

Bought it here.

Mr. Hamid always knew what I liked.

He once told me had he known me before,

he wouldn’t have sold his last copy of Bunuel’s autobiography.

Sold it to me.

What a piece of work you are...

As far as I recall, somebody cleaned out an entire shelf of Henry James...

But my dear...

you could have at least left me The Golden Bowl.

Although nobody gets through the whole book,

not even me...

Anyone who can’t make it through The Golden Bowl

doesn’t deserve to own it...

You know what it is with my girls?

They have nothing to remember.

As adults, anyway.

No stroll in the park with their lover.

No passionate phone calls into the night

No stolen kisses.

I have to go.

Really?

The Islamic Republic rejected

the UN Resolution 598.

Our esteemed supreme leader, Imam Khomeini,

posed two preconditions:

First, the removal of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power,

a demand made eight years ago,

when Iraq invaded our sacred land,

in September 1980...

Attention! Attention!

I’ll get the kids! Go get my mother!

Negar! Dara!

Red Alert! Air Raid!

Alert!

It’s nothing, it’s nothing...

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

We can’t continue like this.

Look how much Ghomi respects his martyred friends.

Death brought him to God, right?

They keep saying their only love is God.

Be careful what you wish for...

Professor Nafisi, I’m sorry,

but you didn’t know him.

But we knew him.

A friend of ours was expelled because of him.

He said he was aroused because he saw some skin under her scarf

Go talk to her...

Hossein Hossein is our slogan!

Martyrdom is our pride!

Professor!

Yes, dear.

You say we should feel sorry for these fanatics when they’re killed?

No, that’s not the point.

No matter what they do, we can’t be like them. Understand?

Yes.

Sorry.

Nassrin.

I saw them take you away that day.

I know what they did to Mahtab.

I’m sorry.

The worst for me was

when they’d call people’s names in the middle of the night.

Each time they took three girls

and we would hear only two gunshots.

Ahmadi!

It took an eternity until we knew who survived.

I’m glad you got out.

Thanks to my devout father.

Without him, God knows where I would be.

For some girls it was better to die.

There was this girl...

She wasn’t even political,

she was just beautiful.

They passed her around

and raped her,

so she wouldn’t be a virgin anymore

and wouldn’t go to heaven after they kill her.

They were careful not to touch us,

but raping was not a problem.

We talked a lot about books, Mahtab and I.

That was really good.

A Pyrrhic victory.

- Join us! - A Pyrrhic victory.

Let us pay respect to our dear brother who sacrificed his life

for the sake of the Islamic Republic!

Professor Nafisi…

Mr. Bahri...

I’m okay, professor.

Much better than others, praise Allah.

I’m happy to see you.

Me too.

I thought I’d come to say hello.

I deserve that.

You’re sure you don’t want to go?

Me? No…

you’ll get more out of it.

7th Milad International Film Festival

I love Tarkovsky.

Yes, yes...

They really want to show this film?

In Swedish, without subtitles...

I just want to know what the censor did to it...

Written and Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

What was that?

Don’t you know the censor is blind?

Unbelievable

Hossein Hossein is our slogan.

Martyrdom is our honor.

They lied to us!

They lied to us!

They lied to us!

Ghomi, what are you doing?

Ghomi locked himself in!

Go find the keys!

Ghomi! Ghomi!

Ghomi! Open the door

What are you doing?

Ghomi, please! Don’t do it!

Here are the keys!

Open the door! Quickly!

Let me in.

Let me in, let me in!

Let me in.

Oh no, what has he done...

Hello.

Can I speak to Bijan Naderi?

I’m his wife, thank you.

No, no need to disturb him..

Just tell him that I called.

Thank you.

You said you knew him?

Yes, a big shot in the Muslim Students Association.

He never read the books, yet he always had something to say.

He always talked about the war.

Finally, he went to the front.

He believed the war was a blessing for everyone.

Because the war really was a blessing for him.

Yes.

and then he came home

and saw that everyone was watching the Oscars on their satellite dishes.

His world fell apart.

And so he decided.

He kept saying: "They lied to me."

"they lied to me."

He thought this through.

He brought jerrycans through the university gate,

all the way to an empty class he found on the second floor.

He sat and poured gasoline over himself.

I don’t understand how he could light the match.

I don’t want to care about him, but…

I wish I was stronger.

Azar dear, it’s not about being strong.

I can’t teach anymore.

Because?

Because of everything.

My dear, giving up isn’t the right thing to do.

You know that very well.

What about you?

You gave up. You gave up on everything.

I gave up a long time ago.

I contribute nothing.

Like a disembodied brain.

Why say such nonsense?

It’s true,

and I don’t mind it. Why should I?

I can teach private lessons, right?

Hello.

We were worried sick.

Why didn’t you call?

I did, I couldn’t reach you.

Mama, Grandma said maybe you were arrested

Don’t say such things to the children, Mom.

But we didn’t know what happened.

- Okay, but… - You’re not careful.

You keep going around with that colleague of yours.

One day they might arrest you, heaven forbid.

Go, go talk to him.

It’s nothing, sweetheart,

I’ll be right back.

Bijan,

it was a terrible day.

That’s why you went to talk to him?

I called you first,

but I couldn’t find you.

You must have wished not to find me.

What are you talking about?

I just want to know why you went to him, not to me

Simple question, simple answer.

I just told you why...

So it’s my fault!

No, it’s this cursed place we live in...

You can’t blame everything on the Islamic Republic.

- But... - But what?

They again made another stupid rule you don’t like!?

Yes.

Yes, you’re right. It’s my fault.

I should have called again.

- I’m sorry I made you worry. - Mama, Dara took my books!

Dara, stop it!

Mama!

Hello?

I called you yesterday.

Your mother said you were ill.

Yes, I had a big fight with Bijan.

I need to apologize to him.

I was being childish.

I keep telling him the same thing over and over.

You should stop me...

Either take this feeling out of your system,

or take yourself out of the system.

You’re so clever…

Obviously.

I know this isn’t Somalia or Afghanistan.

I know it could be much worse.

I’m so tired.

Get some rest, dear.

OK, dear.

See you.

The Dean Faculty of Literature - Allameh University

Dear Sir, When I returned to Tehran,

I thought that teaching English would be a sublime mission,

and so it was at first.

Today, for various reasons,

I can’t keep doing this.

I hereby submit my resignation. respectfully, Azar Nafisi

Goals were scored by Danaeifard in the 13th minute

and Farrokhi in the 58th...

Thursday - 10am – Azar Nafisi

Dad

I forgot my...

Thanks.

I should go, I’m late.

Nassrin...

I don’t want to lose you.

Be careful.

Don’t worry.

I like Jane Austen,

but sometimes I feel she makes everything too small.

What if you don’t go?

Just this once.

Let’s stay here together.

I don’t know who you were talking about,

but men are like that.

We’re supposed to marry them?

How can you spend a lifetime with someone you don’t know?

Is that why you never got married?

Stop this nonsense.

Stay home and take care of your family.

It’s one day a week! One day!

And she’s asleep.

It’s not about her. You love your books more than us.

More than you!

No need!

Go take care of your stupid novels.

Go.

I’ve never danced in my life.

Why are you blushing? I’m not really a man.

She’s embarrassed. So am I.

Nassrin! That was my foot.

We can’t remember the steps and talk and the same time.

Nobody can! It’s really hard.

We got confused.

Men are weak, that’s it.

Don’t men and women get married for sex?

Manna, you’re married, you tell us.

The truth is, Nima is my best friend.

We have a deep, spiritual connection.

Poor Nima.

He’s not poor at all.

Anyway, he has no one else to talk to.

Men and women can’t be friends.

Don’t fool yourselves.

It’s all good when the sex is good.

Otherwise...

That’s obvious.

Azin dear...

He hates me.

You can’t let him beat you.

No?

If I leave,

he’ll take away my daughter and have his mother raise her.

I can’t let that happen.

So why do you keep getting married again and again?

Maybe she makes the wrong choices.

No, no, look,

even Azin knows the difference between higher love

and something earthbound like sleeping together.

"Even Azin"?

No, I didn’t mean it like that...

Professor Nafisi, I think about sex a lot.

Of course…

Is it only me? You don’t?

So only I’m crazy?

No, dear, it’s only natural. You’re young

and you should think about these things.

Okay, girls, what dances would you say define our society?

Baba Karam.

You dance?

It’s easier than walking like poles. A step here, a step there...

- So you do dance... - Come to the center!

Surely you’re happy to show us!

Oh lady

Oh lady

Oh lady

Sit on your knees...

Make a fuss, dear...

Move your body gracefully

My heart is overflowing like a spring...

My heart is overflowing like a spring...

My beautiful girl, my flower.

My bud girl, my flower.

My alley girl, my flower.

From alley to alley, my flower.

Be cute, my flower.

Because of this cuteness and charisma.

Make a fuss dear

Make a fuss...

My heart is overflowing like a spring...

My heart is overflowing like a spring...

Oh lady,

Oh lady,

Sit on your knees.

Make a fuss, dear

because of this cuteness and charisma.

My heart is overflowing like a spring…

What’s that?

Is there something you don’t know?

Not me, the girls.

They know nothing.

I guess it’s not surprising.

This book came out in the ‘70s, even American women were confused.

You didn’t seem confused at all in America, as far as I remember...

In our culture, love and feelings are segregated from sex.

Do you segregate sex from love as well?

Not me.

You know I had a lot on my mind lately.

Can you put it aside for a minute?

Want to talk to me about your nightmares?

They’ve been going on for so long, why talk about them now?

Something is eating you inside.

It’s important for me to talk about it.

It’s not easy to speak about these things. You know that.

And you won’t remember anyway.

Listen, I don’t care if you share your anxieties with someone else.

You have every right to talk to any friend you like.

I’m just afraid of losing you.

Losing me?

- Because of him? - Because of who then?

Because of a thousand other things.

Azin’s husband hit her and bruised her face last week.

She can’t divorce him. She says he’ll take her daughter away from her.

There are solutions for these things. I can get her a lawyer.

Bijan, you don’t need to find a solution.

You’re so naive,

you think everything can be solved with logic

and good will.

Of course it can.

Governments come and go.

We’re the ones who stay.

This is our country.

- I love Iran. - I love Iran too.

How amazing…

So this is on you?

No, no, wait, wait.

What a reward!

Excellent!

Azar dear, it’s perfect!

How did it get to Tehran?

After the revolution, I showed a journalist

from New York around Tehran and he gave it to me when he left.

And now you’re giving it to me?

I couldn’t find anyone better than you...

And I was cleaning out my library...

Just checking what I really need, and don’t need.

You’re leaving?

No, where can I go?

My mother is old.

Bijan just got a contract to build a park in Isfahan.

But you’re thinking about it.

Azar, listen.

If you want to go, go.

With your family, of course.

You have every right to achieve what you want.

But how can I desert you

and leave you here without me?

Waiter! Come here!

Yes?

We’re here to take a look.

I’ll tell the manager.

Go.

The Militia. They’re checking everyone.

If you’re not related,

it’s better to sit at separate tables.

If they ask why you’re together,

you’re waiting for an order of pastries. okay?

What are you doing?

We’ve done nothing wrong!

I’ll call Bijan, he has no problem with this.

And then what?

They’ll say he’s not in control of his wife.

I refuse to obey senseless orders. Don’t move!

If you don’t want to pay the bill, find a better excuse.

Seriously…

Nassrin, leave the dishes, come sit here for a sec.

I have to tell you something.

Sit down.

It’s okay.

Is it important?

My sister lives in England.

I’m going to live with her and her husband.

I’m leaving.

I’m leaving Iran.

Just like that...

How are you leaving?

With smugglers.

They won’t give me a passport,

because I was in prison.

Smugglers? Alone? How will you do that?

Once I get to Turkey, my brother-in-law will pick me up.

Prison, war...

That period was really hard for me.

I have...had a boyfriend.

It didn’t help...

Why are you surprised?

Anyway, it ended. And I wanted to be left alone.

I have some problems, from my time in prison.

Me and my mother both think I’ll be better off in England.

That’s why you broke up with your boyfriend?

Yes...

No, actually...

he was a very good man.

An intellectual.

He read Derrida and watched films by Kiarostami and Bergman.

But...

I didn’t like the way he thought about women.

Not that he was rude or anything.

But I saw how he looked at other women.

He wouldn’t touch me.

He said...

it was out of respect.

Because some women they want for marriage

and some just for sex.

So you’re leaving.

I’m thirty-five

and I still don’t know what love is.

We didn’t hear from her for a week,

but thank God, last night her father told me

she reached the border two days ago.

Smugglers will take her across the mountains next week.

Take her, how? On a mule?

Like Sally Field in Not Without My Daughter?

You think it’s funny?

Sorry. I don’t know what to say.

- How about saying nothing? - Manna dear…

sometimes it’s hard to know how to react.

But why?

We all know why, but why now?

She said it was the right time.

I wish she’d at least say goodbye.

Sometimes that’s too painful.

This class will be over soon anyway.

Nassrin got the message.

You got it into her head.

The idea that we should all leave.

Me?

I never said that. I never will.

You didn’t have to.

The subtext was:

Get out of Iran.

Yassi! Why are you putting words in the professor’s mouth?

If you feel trapped living here, just say so.

Fine. I feel like I’m in a cage, okay?

So why blame others? The professor didn’t start the revolution.

Certainly, this revolution is not the one we wanted.

I always said that each of us must decide for herself.

You set up the model for us,

That staying here is useless.

We should leave if we want to make something of ourselves.

I’m still here.

I’m sorry if you somehow got the wrong impression.

I don’t think that’s fair.

Yes, it’s not fair. We all think so.

This is the truth,

you stopped teaching at university.

And started this class.

Girls!

You’re exaggerating!

No, I’m glad you’re speaking up.

The truth is...

I’m thinking about leaving too.

But...

my life is here.

Bijan’s work is here.

My mother is getting old.

It's been years since I slept without having the worst nightmares.

I know that you have the same problem too.

I think to myself that I just want to feel comfortable.

But then I wonder, what does feeling comfortable mean?

What if we get used to living like this?

I got used to feeling nauseated and dizzy.

But without feeling like this, what kind of person am I?

And if I can’t let go of this feeling,

how can I stay here?

- What are you doing? - Where are the walnuts?

Where are the walnuts?

Did you eat them all?

Where are the walnuts?

Here, they’re here.

Bijan...

Say something.

Say what?

Say something to calm me down.

Say you want to leave this place.

It won’t stay like this.

We won’t live forever.

The fact that we go on represents...

Represents what?

I don’t want to represent anything. I just want to be comfortable to live.

Don’t you live?

Of course not!

Don’t you see?

I’m transparent, I don’t exist!

What are you talking about?

Bijan, they took everything away from me.

Everything!

Wait.

Listen to me for a minute.

Look, this is me.

This is you.

We’re real.

The only thing that’s real.

I built this house for us, for our family.

Nobody can touch us here.

Yes, and it’s wonderful.

But what happens when we’re outside?

Do you want to raise your daughter, your Negar, in this ruined place?

What will Dara think about women? What kind of man will he be?

He won’t be like that,

Dara is my son, I’m not that kind of a person.

Bijan, this is the water we swim in.

These kids know nothing else.

I know it’s hard for you to leave behind your home, your work, everything, and go.

But we’re a family.

Ultimately, I’m making the decision for all of us.

Kids dressed, fed, off to school.

Rest. Call if you need anything. Love, B.

Manna was right, wasn’t she.

I won’t be surprised if you all leave.

And you?

Me?

Never.

Maybe I’m just stubborn.

All these years, I really loved your classes.

I enjoyed every moment.

Even if they thought I’m an old maid.

- No one thought so… - Of course they did.

I didn’t care.

I was veiled long before it became mandatory.

I was a believer. Devout.

I took pride in that.

Now I don’t know anymore.

Don’t cry.

Iran is in love again Mohammad Khatami for President

In love again…

Unbelievable...

If they lose faith in the future, they won’t survive.

They’ll survive,

but they won’t want to stay.

But these are my problems alone.

I hope you’ll keep me posted.

I won’t be doing that, my friend.

Call it self-defense, cowardice,

lack of courage. Whatever you want.

I don’t want to be in touch

with someone who got it together to get out of here.

You’re the one who encouraged me to leave.

Why cut me off?

Because these are my rules.

Far from the eye, far from the heart.

Oh God...

Stupid rules... Such a string of cliches...

Most rules are.

Don’t look upset.

When you get to America, write about me in your book too.

Who said I’ll write about myself?

I want to write about Jane Austen.

And you think you can do that?

Without writing about us?

Jane Austen has nothing to do with me and you.

No one can tell your story but you.

You should go live your life, write your book.

In any case, you’ll leave Iran,

but Iran will never leave you.

It’s nothing Bijan, sleep.

Sleep.

- Mom... - Good morning, Negar dear...