Leily is with Me

Amid the smoky, brittle landscape of the Iran‑Iraq war, a modest television studio pulses with urgency. Inside its cramped offices, a half‑finished apartment awaits its owner, and a looming loan from the broadcaster threatens to pull the rug out from beneath him. The film opens with this pressure cooker of bureaucracy and battlefield echo, establishing a world where propaganda, survival and personal pride intersect in the flickering glow of a camera lens.

The story follows Sadeq, a pragmatic cameraman whose talent is matched only by his mounting debts. Desperate to secure the financing that might finally let him finish his home, he is nudged toward a perilous shortcut: a frontline documentary that promises both patriotic flair and the favor of a powerful television official. Joined by the seasoned colleague Kamali, whose outward confidence masks his own uneasy relationship with the war, the pair embark on a venture that feels as much about personal redemption as it is about professional ambition.

Their partnership quickly becomes a study in contrast. Sadeq brings a raw, almost transactional drive, while Kamali carries the weight of experience and a quietly burning wish to escape the front’s relentless grind. The tension between the two men is underscored by the oppressive atmosphere of a war‑scarred country, where every camera click can feel like a vote for truth or for the narrative the state wishes to sell. In the background, the gentle presence of Sadeq’s Aunt offers a grounding, domestic counterpoint, reminding viewers of the quiet lives left waiting for those who venture into the conflict.

Through tightly framed shots and a hushed, almost claustrophobic soundscape, the film paints a portrait of ambition colliding with the stark realities of war. It balances the grit of frontline reportage with the intimate, human yearning for stability, loyalty, and a sense of belonging—setting the stage for a journey that promises more than just a quest for a loan.

Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:41