Leily is with Me

Sadegh, a television cameraman, grapples with serious financial problems. He desperately needs a loan to stabilize his life. A friend suggests that a brief visit to the war zone to prepare a report could prove his patriotic dedication and help him secure the loan.

A plan arises: a short war-zone report would demonstrate his commitment to the nation and its cause, making the loan more attainable. He reluctantly agrees to the assignment, despite fearing the war zone.

He is partnered with Kamali, a more senior television employee who appears to be a loyal supporter of the war effort. Kamali accompanies him to the war-affected areas to gather footage and stories. They set out with the official purpose of a routine report.

The mission quickly grows dangerous as Sadegh's short visit inches toward the front lines. He battles fear while Kamali presses forward, creating mounting tension. The distance between intention and danger tightens.

Sadegh devises plans to gradually escape the increasingly perilous situation, trying to distance himself from the front. A string of incidents, however, pulls him ever closer to the fighting. The pressure tests his resolve.

Kamali reveals his own cowardice too, and his insistence on staying proves hollow. The audience learns that both men fear death and wish to leave, yet refuse to acknowledge their fear openly. Their misperceptions of each other persist.

As danger escalates, Sadegh's view of the Iranian fighters shifts from seeing them as fanatic of dying to recognizing them as ordinary men protecting their country. He begins to empathize with their humanity and motives. This change marks a turning point in his report and his beliefs.

Trapped at the front line, they are besieged by a tank army. The only other living man nearby is a wounded RPG shooter who guides Sadegh on how to shoot. The situation becomes a life-or-death moment.

Sadegh fires, attempting to take down a tank, while danger closes in with tanks' fire. He seems to be killed by the tank's attack, but the next scene reveals he survives. This climactic act forces him to confront his deepest fears.

After the encounter, Sadegh's family and friends go to the hospital to look for him, only to learn he is alive but badly wounded. The shock of his survival contrasts with prior assumptions about his fate. Their relief is tempered by the reality of his injuries.

In recovery, Sadegh is transformed; he expresses willingness to return to the war zone and continue reporting from danger. This new stance challenges his loved ones and redefines his relationship with fear and duty.

Leily's name traces to Persian poetry and the Layla and Majnun tale, and the film uses it to symbolize the beloved that Sadegh seeks in his journey. The title represents the ultimate ideal he pursues amidst war and fear.