Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Tehran Taboo (2018) movie poster

Timeline

Tehran Taboo (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 90 min · Persian
Echo score 75
JustWatch #13,225 11
Directed by
Ali Soozandeh
Starring
Zahra Amir Ebrahimi, Adem Karaduman, Aida Loos, Alireza Bayram, Farhad Abadinejad, Jasmina Ali

Within the hidden layers of Tehran, unspoken rules are tested as a young woman fights for independence. Her journey intersects with the lives of a compromised judge and a woman struggling with difficult circumstances, revealing the complexities of a society where personal freedom is restricted. The film explores the challenges faced by women striving to overcome societal constraints and seek autonomy in a conservative environment.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (10)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Tehran Taboo
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Tehran Taboo (2018)

Where can you watch Tehran Taboo? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kino Film Collection, Kanopy and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

10 events in order · contains spoilers

Tehran Taboo Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Tehran Taboo (2018) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Pari's Dilemma

    Pari finds herself in a desperate situation, unable to obtain a divorce due to her unyielding husband's refusal. Coerced into prostitution, she must navigate her dire circumstances while trying to protect her young son, Elias, who is often present during her ordeals.

  2. Seeking Justice

    In a brave move, Pari approaches a judge at the Islamic Revolutionary Court to request a divorce. Despite her husband's objections, the judge suggests an alternative solution involving a concubine arrangement, which sets the stage for Pari's next steps.

    Where
    Islamic Revolutionary Court
  3. New Arrangements

    After her meeting with the judge, Pari is offered an apartment that the judge owns. When she moves in, she meets Sara and her husband, leading to an unexpected friendship amid shared struggles.

    Where
    Judge's apartment
  4. Donya's Secret

    Parallel to Pari's plight, Donya confides in Babak about her upcoming marriage to another man. Their love faces societal pressures, compelling them to pursue a risky and illegal procedure to restore Donya's virginity before her wedding.

  5. Desperate Measures

    With the pressure mounting, Donya and Babak scramble to gather funds for the virginity restoration procedure. This outrageous predicament highlights the extreme lengths they are willing to go due to cultural expectations.

  6. A Heartbreaking Confession

    Donya reveals to Pari that her marriage is merely a facade and that she is being sold to a trafficker bound for Dubai. The shocking truth underscores the darker aspects of their reality and the crisis affecting women in their society.

  7. Sara's Downfall

    As tensions rise, Sara becomes the victim of a prank call made by Pari, which places a sexually explicit request on her phone. This ill-fated joke is soon traced back to Pari, creating dire consequences for Sara.

  8. Repercussions

    Following the prank call incident, Sara's husband banishes her from their home. This decision sends Sara into a downward spiral, showcasing the impact of societal judgments on individuals facing crises.

  9. Tragic Conclusion

    Devastated by her situation, Sara takes her own life, a heartbreaking culmination of her struggles. This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities faced by women like Pari and Sara.

  10. Babak's Escape

    In the aftermath of Sara's death, Babak decides to flee the country in search of freedom. His choice reflects the harsh decision-making many individuals must confront due to the oppressive nature of their society.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 16:33

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Tehran Taboo Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Tehran Taboo (2018): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q2

Why does the judge suggest a concubine arrangement instead of granting divorce?

The judge offers Pari a legal workaround: she can become a concubine (a secondary wife) to another man while remaining married to her husband. This allows her to live separately from her husband and gain some independence without requiring his divorce approval, which he refuses to give.

  • concubine
  • Islamic law
  • marriage arrangement
Q3

Why does Donya need a virginity restoration procedure?

In Iran, societal expectations require brides to be virgins at marriage. Since Donya has premarital sexual experience with Babak, she cannot legitimately marry another man without undergoing this illegal medical procedure to restore her virginity before her wedding.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Donya is forced to marry a man she doesn't love due to societal pressure.

  • virginity restoration
  • cultural expectations
  • Iran marriage
Q4

Why is Donya actually being sold to a trafficker?

Donya reveals to Pari that her impending marriage is a facade. Her family has secretly arranged to sell her to a human trafficker who will take her to Dubai, where virgins command significantly higher prices. The marriage is merely a cover for this trafficking deal.

Foreshadowing: Donya's desperation to raise money for the procedure hints at deeper desperation beyond wedding nerves.

  • human trafficking
  • Dubai
  • forced marriage
Q5

Why does Pari make the prank call to Sara, and what happens as a result?

In a moment of spite, Pari makes a prank call to Sara's phone that places a sexually explicit request. When Sara's husband discovers the call, he traces it back to Sara. Believing she has been unfaithful, he banishes her from their home, triggering her downward spiral.

Foreshadowing: The tension between the women in the apartment building creates friction throughout the narrative.

  • prank call
  • betrayal
  • banishment
Q6

Why does Sara commit suicide after being banished?

Sara takes her own life because being banished from her home represents complete social destruction in her society. She loses her husband, her home, and her status simultaneously. With no support system and facing societal shame, she sees no way forward.

Foreshadowing: Sara's isolation and vulnerability are established early when she relies entirely on her husband for her place in society.

  • suicide
  • societal shame
  • women Iran
Q7

Why does Babak decide to flee Iran after Sara's death?

Witnessing Sara's tragic fate and the oppressive society that drove her to suicide, Babak realizes he cannot build a future with Donya in Iran. He chooses to escape the country in search of freedom, leaving behind the woman he loves.

Foreshadowing: The mounting tragedies throughout the film build toward this desperate decision.

  • escape Iran
  • freedom
  • oppression

Movie threads

More Movies Like Tehran Taboo, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Tehran Taboo tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Serious adult animation like Tehran Taboo

Animation used to tell serious, hard-hitting stories for adults. If you were intrigued by the use of animation in Tehran Taboo to tell a serious story, explore more movies like it. These films use the animated medium for mature dramas, tackling heavy themes with a distinctive visual approach that enhances their emotional weight.

  • somber
  • unflinching
  • thought-provoking
  • grim
  • serious
  • adult themes
  • Tone: dark, somber, intense
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Movies in this thread use animation not for fantasy or comedy, but to amplify the gravity of realistic human struggles. The narrative structure is often dramatic and character-driven, focusing on intense personal or societal conflicts.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share the unique combination of being animated and targeting an adult audience with serious subject matter. They prove that animation can be a potent tool for realism and emotional depth.

Bleak stories of societal oppression like Tehran Taboo

Unflinching stories of individuals crushed by systemic injustice. If you appreciated Tehran Taboo's stark portrayal of life under strict societal rules, you'll find similar movies here. These films explore themes of systemic injustice, female struggle, and the high cost of personal freedom in conservative environments, often with sad endings.

  • oppressive
  • desperate
  • tragic
  • unsettling
  • grim
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: dark, bleak, tragic
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are typically steady-paced and multi-threaded, following several characters whose lives intersect under the weight of a common oppressive system. The story arcs usually progress towards inevitable tragedy, emphasizing the powerlessness of the individual.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and focus on the crushing impact of societal norms on personal freedom. They create a consistent mood of desperation and claustrophobia, appealing to viewers seeking sobering, realistic social commentary.

If you liked this

Movies Like Tehran Taboo

Similar movies to Tehran Taboo: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Tehran Taboo (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Tehran Taboo in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app