Under the Shadow

In post-revolutionary Tehran, Shideh, a former medical student, is prevented from continuing her education due to her connection to leftist student groups. Despite her passion for medicine, she discards her textbooks but keeps a significant physiology book that reminds her of her late mother.

As the situation in Tehran worsens, Shideh chooses to remain in the city with her young daughter, Dorsa, against her husband Iraj's wishes. Iraj, who is called for military duty as a doctor, implores Shideh to seek safety with his parents, highlighting the intensity of their escalating conflict.

During a shelling incident, a boy from the Ebrahimi family, who lost his parents, shares a secret with Dorsa. He gifts her a charm that is said to protect against evil spirits, a gesture that intrigues Dorsa but leaves Shideh skeptical about the supernatural story attached to it.

As the war continues, Dorsa falls ill, and her condition escalates Shideh's already present PTSD. Both mother and daughter begin to experience horrifying nightmares that reflect the chaos and trauma surrounding them.

In the midst of a missile attack, Dorsa's beloved doll, Kimia, goes missing. This event causes Dorsa significant distress, leading her to believe that an ominous presence is haunting their home in search of the doll.

Mrs. Ebrahimi warns Shideh of the dangers posed by djinns, supernatural beings known to possess and take cherished items. With neighboring families leaving for safety, Shideh starts to notice her own belongings disappearing, further straining her mental state.

Shideh's nightmares intensify into horrifying visions of a ghostly figure wearing a chador. The burden of her increasingly chaotic life makes it difficult for her to address her mental health struggles, even as Dorsa begins to see the same spirits.

Shideh receives a call that seems to be from her husband Iraj, but the voice transforms into a cruel reminder of her supposed failures as a mother. This moment deepens her feelings of isolation and despair as she grapples with her role within the war-torn landscape.

In her frantic search for Kimia, Shideh finds the doll in a state of decay, driving her to tears. Determined to bring some semblance of comfort to Dorsa, she painstakingly repairs Kimia with tape, symbolizing her desperation to hold on to their normal life.

As they prepare to escape, an air raid alarm causes chaos and panic. In the scramble to the shelter, Shideh is filled with dread, fearing she might leave behind a ghostly version of Dorsa, which leads her back to the dark confines of their home.

In her frantic search for Dorsa, Shideh confronts a terrifying apparition lurking beneath their bed. After overcoming this fear, she finally locates the real Dorsa, but the sinister atmosphere continues to haunt them as they try to escape.

Shideh and Dorsa manage to flee their haunting home, driving towards the safety of Iraj's parents' location. However, the road ahead is grim as Shideh wrestles with the terrifying thought that Kimia's severed head and her medical textbook are both left behind.

As they make their way to safety, Shideh grapples with the emotional toll of their experiences. The remnants of their life—the lost doll and the grip of the djinn—linger, leaving her to question whether they truly escaped or if their nightmares are just beginning.