Woman, Life, Freedom

In Tehran in 1981, little Armina experiences a childlike desire for freedom and self-expression. In a world full of rules and constraints, she asserts herself against her mother's expectations and finds solace in the rebellious presence of her persecuted aunt Sara. Through Arminas eyes we see her childish attempt to define herself through make-up and dance, while her surroundings reflect the reality of the time.

When Aunt Sara returns after a brutal attack by the moral police, Armina is left with an unspoken longing for freedom and self-determination. The emotional climax of the film lies in a fateful scene in which Armina encounters the bitter taste of "Biscuit Woman" cookies, feeling not only the taste of the cookies but also the bitter undertone of social reality.

42 years later, Armina's daughter Nagin finds a symbol of change in a cookie wrapper. Nagin's courageous decision to go out without a scarf reflects Arminas inner struggle. The film culminates in Armina's liberating act of taking off her headscarf and the call: Woman, life, freedom.