There Is No Evil (2021) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Heshmat is compelled to participate in executions as part of his job within Iran's justice system. The film suggests he is trapped by the system, dissent or refusal would likely result in severe consequences for himself and his family. His seemingly normal family life coexists with the dark reality of his work, highlighting how the regime maintains control through forcing ordinary citizens into morally compromising positions.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Heshmat helping neighbors and bonding with his family, creating a stark contrast that makes his grim task more disturbing.

• heshmat
• executioner
• moral dilemma
• iran
• conscription system

Pouya escapes by overpowering several soldiers at his barracks, discarding his rifle, and fleeing the premises. He then reunites briefly with his girlfriend Tahmineh, experiencing a moment of joy before the authorities pursue him. The escape represents his refusal to comply with the system, though the film leaves his ultimate fate ambiguous.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the episode, Pouya discusses his desire to leave the country with Tahmineh, showing his desperation to escape his circumstances.

• pouya
• escape
• soldier
• tahmineh
• desertion

Na'na leaves Javad because she discovers he was complicit in executing Keyvan, a political activist whose ideals opposed the regime. Keyvan's death had deeply affected her family, who were mourning him during her birthday. Learning that her boyfriend participated in killing someone she considered a martyr creates an irreconcilable breach of trust, leading her to end the relationship immediately.

Foreshadowing: The tension at Na'na's birthday gathering, where the family mourns Keyvan, establishes the emotional weight of his death before Javad's revelation.

• javad
• na'na
• keyvan
• execution
• breakup
• activist

Bahram left his family after refusing to execute a prisoner. In Iran's system, refusing such orders would have serious consequences, so he chose to separate from his wife and young daughter Darya to protect them from retaliation. He sent them away and lived in exile in the countryside, sacrificing his relationship with Darya to avoid being forced into execution and to keep his family safe.

Foreshadowing: The ethical discussions about killing wildlife to protect livestock mirror Bahram's broader refusal to kill, establishing his moral stance.

• bahram
• darya
• father
• refusal
• execution
• family separation

The four stories are connected thematically through the central moral crisis of execution within Iran's justice system. Each episode features a different man facing the choice to execute or refuse, exploring how the system affects ordinary people. While the characters don't directly interact, they represent various positions within the same oppressive structure, those who carry out executions, those who refuse, and those who suffer the consequences.

Foreshadowing: The anthology structure deliberately repeats the same ethical dilemma across different perspectives, reinforcing the systemic nature of the violence.

• anthology
• interconnected stories
• execution system
• iran
• moral dilemma

After overpowering the soldiers and discarding his rifle, Pouya manages to reunite briefly with his girlfriend Tahmineh. The film shows them sharing a moment of happiness together. However, his ultimate fate remains unclear, the escape represents his resistance, but the authorities likely pursue him, suggesting he will face significant consequences.

Foreshadowing: Pouya's earlier conversations about wanting to leave Iran with Tahmineh establish his desperation to escape the system.

• pouya
• escape
• aftermath
• military
• consequences

Bahram is dying from a serious illness during the final episode. His declining health becomes apparent during Darya's visit, and he eventually passes away. His illness adds to the emotional weight of the reunion, as Darya learns the truth about her paternity just as she is about to lose her father permanently.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scenes with Bahram discussing life and death foreshadow his imminent death.

• bahram
• death
• illness
• darya
• farewell

The fox Darya glimpses in the brush serves as a metaphor for freedom and the difficult choices her family has faced. Just as Bahram discussed earlier about killing wildlife to protect livestock, the fox represents the moral compromises and sacrifices the family has made. The fleeting sight contrasts with the weight of their history, symbolizing both escape and the persistent presence of their past choices.

Foreshadowing: The earlier conversation about killing foxes to protect sheep establishes this wildlife imagery as a theme.

• fox
• symbolism
• freedom
• metaphor
• darya
• bahram

Javad appears to have compartmentalized his actions during military service from his civilian life. When he plans the proposal during Na'na's birthday, he has not yet fully processed or come to terms with his complicity in Keyvan's execution. It is only during the birthday gathering, surrounded by the mourning family, that the weight of his actions fully hits him, leading to his confession and the breakdown of the relationship.

Foreshadowing: The tension and awkwardness during the birthday celebration hints at Javad's internal struggle before his realization.

• javad
• proposal
• na'na
• guilt
• confession
• keyvan

Zaman reveals the truth about Bahram being Darya's biological father because Bahram is dying and she wants Darya to know her paternal history before it's too late. The revelation also allows Bahram to finally confront his past choices and explain why he abandoned his family. This moment represents a final act of honesty and closure for both Darya and her father.

Foreshadowing: The growing emotional conversations throughout Darya's visit build toward this revelation.

• zaman
• bahram
• darya
• paternity reveal
• truth
• family secrets