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When the Moon Was Full (2019) movie poster

Timeline

When the Moon Was Full (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 131 mins · Persian
Echo score 80
Directed by
Narges Abyar
Starring
Sajjad Dolati, Shabnam Moghadami, Elnaz Shakerdoost, Pedram Sharifi, Hootan Shakiba, Fereshteh Sadr Orafaee

Abdolhamid encounters Faezeh at a market and they fall in love, eventually marrying and beginning their life together. Later, Faezeh discovers that Abdolhamid's family resides in the Sistan and Baluchestan province and are involved in illegal activities. Determined to escape this situation, she flees with her husband to Pakistan, where they unexpectedly encounter Abdolhamid’s brother, Abdolmalek Rigi, who is revealed to be a terrorist.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Events in order (14)
  2. 2 Timeline questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle

14 events in order · contains spoilers

When the Moon Was Full Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of When the Moon Was Full (2019) 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. Meeting at the Zahedan bazaar

    Abdolhamid, working in a bazaar in Zahedan, meets Faezeh and her mother who are customers. The encounter sets off a chain of events that pulls Abdolhamid into the world of Jundallah. This initial meeting marks the beginning of a dangerous path for both characters.

    Where
    Zahedan bazaar
  2. Abdolhamid's family ties to Jundallah

    Abdolhamid is revealed as the younger brother of Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of Jundallah. This familial connection explains his eventual involvement with the group. The revelation foreshadows the loyalties that will shape the ensuing conflict.

  3. Marriage and move to Pakistan

    Abdolhamid marries Faezeh and forces her to relocate to Pakistan with her brother Shahab. The marriage binds Faezeh to Abdolhamid and pulls her into the militant world. The move shifts the family into the heart of Jundallah's activities.

    Where
    Pakistan
  4. Faezeh and Shahab join Jundallah activities

    Faezeh and Shahab become involved in Jundallah operations. Their inclusion widens the circle tied to the group and deepens the family’s entanglement with its activities. The siblings’ involvement increases the stakes for everyone connected to them.

    Where
    Pakistan
  5. Family learns of captivity in Pakistan

    Faezeh's family discovers she has been taken captive by Jundallah in Pakistan. The revelation causes alarm for her safety and the fate of her children. This discovery escalates the crisis surrounding the family.

    Where
    Pakistan
  6. Shahab is beheaded by Jundallah

    Shahab is executed by beheading after the group believes he is an Iranian agent. The brutal act demonstrates the ruthlessness of Jundallah and profoundly affects Faezeh and her family. The beheading intensifies the group's menace and reach.

    Where
    Pakistan
  7. Abdolmalek orders a televised beheading video

    Abdolmalek calls Shahab and Faezeh's father to urge him to watch a video of Shahab's beheading on Al-Arabiya the following night. The call underscores the group's use of media for intimidation. It reveals how they exploit propaganda to spread fear.

    Where
    Iran
  8. Faezeh stays in Pakistan with her children

    Faezeh has a chance to escape from Pakistan but chooses to remain there with her three children. Her decision cements her entrapment within the militant environment. The choice reinforces the peril surrounding the family and their future.

    Where
    Pakistan
  9. Abdolhamid kills Faezeh on orders

    On Abdolmalek's orders, Abdolhamid kills Faezeh while she is sleeping. The murder completes her capture and demonstrates the extreme violence used by the Rigi brothers to control those around them. The act seals a brutal chapter in the family saga.

    Where
    Pakistan
  10. 2010: Plane forced to land in Iran; arrests

    In 2010, Abdolmalek is traveling to Bishkek from Dubai on a regular Airbus when an Iranian intelligence officer forces the plane to land in Iran. This forced landing leads to the arrest of both Rigi brothers. The interception effectively ends their militant travel and operations.

    When
    2010
    Where
    On a flight route from Dubai to Bishkek
  11. Trial and execution in Iran

    Following their capture, a court finds the Rigi brothers guilty of dozens of criminal acts and sentences them to execution in the same year. The legal proceedings mark the formal end of their militant activities in Iran. The verdict closes a violent chapter tied to regional instability.

    When
    2010
    Where
    Iran
  12. Officials blame foreign funding

    Iranian officials publicly accuse the United States and some Arab countries of funding Abdolmalek Rigi's activities. The statements reflect a broader narrative about international involvement in regional terrorism. The allegations frame the Rigi network within geopolitical tensions.

    Where
    Iran
  13. Hints of a meeting near Bishkek

    Unnamed officers claim Abdolmalek was on his way to a meeting with diplomat Richard Holbrooke near Bishkek. The purported destination suggests a wider web of international contact attributed to the Rigi leadership. The claim ties the case to broader diplomatic intrigue.

    Where
    Near Bishkek
  14. Pakistan's alleged role in capture

    Pakistan is reportedly said to have helped Iran nab the Rigi brothers. The assertion points to cross-border cooperation that facilitated the arrests. The involvement underscores the complex regional dynamics at play in suppressing the group.

    Where
    Pakistan/Iran

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 12:20

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Timeline questions answered

When the Moon Was Full Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of When the Moon Was Full (2019): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Faezeh stay in Pakistan when she has a chance to escape?

Faezeh chooses to remain in Pakistan with her three children despite having an opportunity to escape. The movie suggests she feels trapped by her circumstances and possibly believes she cannot leave her children behind or survive on her own in a foreign land. Her decision ultimately seals her fate within the militant environment.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Faezeh is already shown being pulled into Jundallah's world, making her entrapment gradually inevitable.

  • faezeh
  • pakistan
  • escape
  • captivity
  • children
Q2

Why does Abdolhamid kill Faezeh?

Abdolhamid kills Faezeh on direct orders from his older brother Abdolmalek, the leader of Jundallah. The murder demonstrates the absolute loyalty Abdolhamid maintains to his brother and the terrorist organization. He carries out the killing while she sleeps, showing it was not an act of passion but of compliance with militant authority.

Foreshadowing: Abdolhamid's initial involvement with Jundallah and his willingness to bring Faezeh into Pakistan foreshadow his capacity to follow orders no matter how brutal.

  • abdolhamid
  • faezeh
  • murder
  • abdolmalek
  • orders
  • jundallah
Q3

What is Jundallah in the movie?

Jundallah (Soldiers of God) is a fictionalized portrayal of a real terrorist network operating in southeastern Iran near the Pakistan border. Led by Abdolmalek Rigi, the group carries out attacks, kidnappings, and beheadings. The movie depicts them as having ties to the Taliban and operating cross-border between Iran and Pakistan.

Foreshadowing: Abdolhamid's connection to his brother Abdolmalek is revealed early, establishing the threat from the start.

  • jundallah
  • terrorists
  • abdolmalek
  • taliban
  • pakistan
  • iran
Q4

Why does Abdolmalek order Shahab's execution?

Abdolmalek orders Shahab's beheading because Jundallah suspects him of being an Iranian intelligence agent. The group views him as a threat to their operations and uses his execution as both a warning to others and a propaganda tool. The brutal act also serves to intimidate Faezeh's family and demonstrate the group's ruthlessness.

Foreshadowing: The earlier revelation that Shahab and Faezeh are drawn into Jundallah activities sets the stage for this fatal suspicion.

  • shahab
  • execution
  • abdolmalek
  • jundallah
  • beheading
  • agent
Q5

How does Iran capture Abdolmalek Rigi?

In 2010, Abdolmalek is flying from Dubai to Bishkek on a regular Airbus passenger flight when an Iranian intelligence officer compels the plane to land in Iran. This forced landing is a covert operation that leads to the immediate arrest of both Abdolmalek and his brother Abdolhamid. The interception effectively ends their terrorist operations.

Foreshadowing: The film earlier establishes Abdolmalek's international travel and communications, hinting at his vulnerable movements.

  • abdolmalek
  • capture
  • iran
  • plane
  • dubai
  • bishkek
  • arrest
Q6

Why is the plane forced to land in Iran instead of continuing to Bishkek?

The Iranian intelligence officer on board the Airbus uses some form of coercion or authority to divert the flight to Iran. This is depicted as a deliberate intelligence operation to capture Abdolmalek Rigi, who was traveling under the radar. The film suggests Iran coordinated the operation knowing his route and destination.

Foreshadowing: Earlier mentions of Abdolmalek's activities and international connections establish why Iran would want to intercept him.

  • plane
  • iran
  • intercepted
  • flight
  • abdolmalek
  • bishkek
Q7

What happens to Abdolhamid and Abdolmalek at the end?

After their capture following the forced plane landing, both Rigi brothers are put on trial in Iran. They are found guilty of numerous crimes including terrorism, murder, and kidnapping. Both brothers are executed in the same year (2010), bringing a definitive end to their operations and the personal tragedy that began with Abdolhamid meeting Faezeh.

Foreshadowing: The film consistently builds toward this tragic conclusion, with each violent act pushing the narrative toward its grim endpoint.

  • execution
  • trial
  • abdolhamid
  • abdolmalek
  • iran
  • 2010
Q8

Why does Abdolmalek force Faezeh's father to watch the beheading video?

Abdolmalek personally calls Faezeh and Shahab's father to demand he watch his son's execution video on Al-Arabiya television the following night. This is a psychological tactic designed to maximize intimidation and spread fear. By forcing a father to witness his child's murder on a news channel, Abdolmalek demonstrates the group's reach and cruelty.

Foreshadowing: The earlier beheading of Shahab already establishes Jundallah's propaganda tactics and willingness to use media for terror.

  • beheading
  • video
  • abdolmalek
  • father
  • al-arabiya
  • intimidation
Q9

Why does Pakistan help Iran capture the Rigi brothers?

The film mentions that Pakistan allegedly helped Iran capture the Rigi brothers, suggesting some level of cross-border cooperation despite Jundallah's operations in the region. This reflects the complex regional politics where Pakistan may have viewed Jundallah as a threat or sought to improve diplomatic relations with Iran. The exact motivations are presented as part of the geopolitical context surrounding the case.

Foreshadowing: The earlier setting of Jundallah's cross-border activities between Pakistan and Iran establishes the tense relationship between the two countries.

  • pakistan
  • iran
  • capture
  • cooperation
  • jundallah
  • border
Q10

What was Abdolmalek's connection to Richard Holbrooke?

Unnamed officers in the film claim Abdolmalek was traveling to meet diplomat Richard Holbrooke near Bishkek when he was captured. This suggests potential international diplomatic contacts, possibly related to negotiations or back-channel communications. The claim ties the personal terrorism case to broader geopolitical interests involving the United States and regional stability.

Foreshadowing: The earlier references to Abdolmalek's international communications and travel hint at his role beyond just local terrorism.

  • richard holbrooke
  • abdolmalek
  • diplomat
  • meeting
  • bishkek
  • usa

Movie threads

More Movies Like When the Moon Was Full, by Mood & Story

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

Families Torn by Ideology like in When the Moon Was Full

Domestic lives shattered by extremist beliefs and inescapable family loyalties. Explore other movies like When the Moon Was Full where family bonds are tested by extreme ideologies. These films feature characters trapped by their relatives' involvement in terrorism or crime, leading to tense, tragic stories about loyalty, fear, and survival.

  • tense
  • tragic
  • desperate
  • foreboding
  • bleak
  • claustrophobic
  • Tone: dark, tense, bleak
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically begin with a character discovering their family's hidden, dangerous life. The narrative follows their desperate attempts to escape or change their fate, often culminating in a futile struggle against an inevitable, tragic outcome dictated by the family's entrenched violent path.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a profound focus on the conflict between kinship and morality. They explore the specific, intimate horror of being bound to people whose actions you abhor, resulting in a consistently tense, bleak, and emotionally heavy viewing experience.

Bleak Escape Thrillers like When the Moon Was Full

Gripping stories of desperate flight from oppressive forces with little hope. If you liked the desperate flight from terrorism in When the Moon Was Full, explore these other movies about bleak escapes. These thrillers and dramas feature high-stakes journeys from captivity where hope is scarce and the outcome is often tragic.

  • desperate
  • tense
  • bleak
  • hopeless
  • thrilling
  • captivity
  • Tone: dark, desperate, tense
  • Pacing: steady, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves characters being trapped—physically or psychologically—by a powerful, hostile force. The bulk of the story is a tense, steady-paced struggle for freedom, marked by setbacks and a growing sense of inevitability. The escape attempt itself is the central plot, but it rarely leads to a clean or happy resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their shared mood of desperate, high-intensity flight against overwhelming odds. The pacing is consistently steady and tense, building a sense of dread rather than adventure. Viewers are drawn to the raw, unforgiving portrayal of the struggle for survival.

Every angle

When the Moon Was Full (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about When the Moon Was Full 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.

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