Permanence

During the twelve-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Mahzad flees Tehran with Siavash, a blinded young man affected by the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. They take refuge in a remote northern villa belonging to an ailing elderly man, where isolation, power outages, and the distant presence of war suspend them in a fragile in-between state. As Mahzad cares for those around her, she is torn between the urge to leave Iran and the responsibility toward those who depend on her. In this enclosed space, a small group of individuals navigate uncertainty, forming quiet bonds as they remain caught between departure and staying.