Under the Shadow (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Under the Shadow is set in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The story takes place during the 1980s, in an apartment building where the protagonist Shideh and her daughter Dorsa live while their husband and father Iraj is away at war.

• tehran
• iran
• setting
• location
• apartment building

The film is set in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War, a period of significant chaos and upheaval in Iran. This wartime setting shapes the daily life struggles, constant fear, and psychological tension experienced by the characters.

• 1980s
• iran-iraq war
• time period
• era
• historical context

Shideh is the protagonist, a resilient mother and former medical student living in Tehran with her daughter Dorsa while her husband Iraj is conscripted to serve as a doctor in the war. She struggles with feelings of guilt and helplessness as she tries to protect her daughter from both the external dangers of war and the supernatural threats haunting their apartment.

• shideh
• mother
• protagonist
• character

Dorsa is Shideh's young daughter who experiences the horrors of war through her innocent perspective. Her attachment to her doll Kimia symbolizes childhood innocence amid chaos. She begins experiencing distressing visions that reveal the deep emotional scars war inflicts on children.

• dorsa
• daughter
• kimia
• doll
• child character

Iraj is Shideh's husband and a doctor who is conscripted to serve in the Iran-Iraq War, leaving his family behind in Tehran. His absence creates tension and emotional strain, as he embodies the conflict between familial duty and the demands imposed by war.

• iraj
• husband
• doctor
• conscripted
• war

The djinn spirits in the film represent the inner fears and traumas of the characters, particularly Shideh's psychological struggles from living under constant threat. The supernatural manifestations blur the line between reality and perception, illustrating how trauma can distort one's sense of safety in familiar places.

• djinn
• spirits
• supernatural
• trauma
• fear

Mental health, particularly PTSD, is a critical theme in the film. Shideh battles psychological struggles from the constant fear of war, and the supernatural elements serve as manifestations of her trauma. The film illustrates how prolonged exposure to danger and loss can distort reality and perception.

• ptsd
• mental health
• psychological
• trauma
• anxiety

Loss encompasses both physical possessions and emotional ties throughout the film. As Shideh and Dorsa navigate their fears, they confront the void left by absent loved ones, particularly Iraj's absence due to conscription. The deterioration of Dorsa's doll Kimia symbolizes the fragility of childhood innocence amidst tragedy.

• loss
• absence
• innocence
• family separation
• grief

The apartment building in Tehran serves as both a refuge and a source of terror. While it represents a attempt at normalcy amid war, it becomes haunted by supernatural forces. The building symbolizes how familiar places can become threatening, reflecting the characters' fractured sense of safety.

• apartment
• tehran building
• home
• haunted house
• safety

The Iran-Iraq War provides the backdrop that amplifies all themes in the film. The constant threat of missile attacks and violence creates a pervasive sense of dread. The war's chaos serves as both a literal danger and a catalyst for the supernatural events, representing how conflict leaves lasting psychological scars on individuals and families.

• iran-iraq war
• conflict
• trauma
• threat
• political context