What’s the Time In Your World?

After twenty years in Paris, Goli Ebtehaj returns to her hometown near Rasht, leaving her French lover Antoine behind. The homecoming is tense, fraught with gossip about the life she might have missed. The visit reopens old wounds and sets the slow, aching memory in motion.

She is greeted by Farhad Yervan, the self-described 'Mr. Idiot' painter who claims to know her from long ago. He is insistent, and his knowledge of her past feels both flattering and invasive. Goli resents his advances and views the encounter with caution.

The town whispers about Goli's absence during her mother Hava's funeral five years ago, and she feels exposed as everyone weighs her choices. The memory of the funeral heightens her unease and sense of judgment. She struggles to keep up a facade of normalcy.

Flashbacks reveal Farhad's long acquaintance with Goli dating back to college, showing how he observed her mannerisms and quirks. The memory surfaces gradually, hinting at a history neither fully acknowledges. This past slowly pulls the present into a deeper layer of longing and regret.

Interwoven with the present, the film shows Farhad's repeated contacts with Hava, who learns about Goli through him. Hava cherished Farhad's affection and lamented Goli's indifference. The threads between past and present grow tangled as memories reemerge.

Goli tracks down Ali Yaghuti, her college crush, who is now married with three children, and they reconnect. The encounter stirs nostalgia and regret, reminding her of what she left behind. Ali's settled life contrasts with their past bond, underscoring how much has changed.

Goli visits her aunt who lives in Bandar-e Anzali, reconnecting with family and a life left behind. The trip broadens her sense of what she could have had and what she might still reclaim. The meeting deepens the sense of place and history in her story.

Tea plantation owner Mr. Najdi reveals that he had planned to propose to Hava before he moved overseas. The confession adds a layer of unfulfilled love and loyalty that colors Goli's memories. The revelation ties together personal histories and the town's quiet heartbreak.

Goli's fury toward Farhad escalates into an act that enables a mob to attack him for harassment. The incident forces her to confront the consequences of her actions and her responsibility toward him. Later, she apologizes and invites him to her house, showing the complexity of their bond.

Farhad arrives at Goli's house with a large suitcase and the weight of unspoken longing. He walks with his head down, the burden evident in his posture. Goli invites him in, signaling an opening for dialogue between them.

After arriving, Farhad collapses from dizziness, a physical manifestation of the emotional shock he has endured. Goli watches with concern as the moment reveals how deeply his feelings run. The collapse becomes a turning point in their fragile relationship.

Awakening, Farhad shows Goli the contents of the suitcase—keepsakes she used to hold dear. The objects anchor memories that bind their histories together and reshape their relationship. The revelation invites a reconsideration of what they mean to each other.

Flashbacks reveal Farhad's long-held love for Goli, including his close observation of her, her habits, and her habit of drawing an X at the pier to recall a lost lyric. The detail deepens the emotional resonance and explains how memory can shape present action. The pier memory ties together personal history with the present tension.

The revelation of shared memories creates a fragile understanding between Goli and Farhad. They stay together into the night, with Farhad sleeping on a table in the living room while Goli bids him good night. The moment hints at ongoing tension between estrangement and attachment.

The film closes on a quiet note about memory, desire, and reconciliation. Goli and Farhad linger in the glow of the revelations, not fully joined but not entirely parted. The final image suggests a future shaped by what memory can still offer.