Winner of the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, Noora Niasari’s powerful feature debut sees an Iranian mother SHAYDA (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) and her six-year-old daughter finding refuge in an Australian women’s shelter run by Joyce (Leah Purcell). Over Persian New Year they take solace in rituals and a growing network of trusted friends, but when Shayda’s estranged and erratic husband Hossein (Osamah Sami) re-enters their lives, her path to independence is jeopardised. Opening night selection, Melbourne International Film Festival 2023.

Some Persian language, English subtitles.