Under the Shadow (2016)

In the shadowy turmoil of the 1980s, a war rages between Islamic post-revolutionary Iran and Iraq, casting a pall over the city of Tehran. Amidst this tumult is Shideh, a former leftist medical student whose dreams of resuming her education are thwarted by the university dean. She's left trapped in an echoing apartment with her feverish daughter Dorsa, who clings to her beloved doll Kimia as if their lives depend on it. When her husband, Dr. Iraj, is conscripted to the war front, Shideh stubbornly refuses to retreat to his parent's safe haven. Defiant, she remains ensnared in their besieged home, a place increasingly cloaked in fear and suffused with an eerie restlessness that seizes their lives. Dorsa whispers of demoniac Djinns, a tale spun by a mute friend living downstairs, and Shideh’s dismissal of the ancient legend soon wanes as inexplicable events unfold. Her Jane Fonda workout tape, a symbol of her past life, and Kimia, Dorsa's emotional anchor, vanish into thin air. The apartment complex trembles under the impact of a missile strike, prompting the terrified neighbors to flee the city. But Shideh and Dorsa remain, their isolation amplified by the encroaching menace. As Dorsa's behavior morphs into something increasingly disturbed, Shideh dives into the world of Djinn lore, unearthing chilling truths. It seems an evil presence has infiltrated their home, drawn by the gusts of fear and anxiety whipping through their lives. The haunting realization dawns on Shideh - they're not alone. She must unearth Kimia from wherever the Djinn has hidden it, or risk her daughter being ensnared by this malevolent entity. They're caught in a tense conflict, a dangerous dance with unseen foes, while the echoes of air raids and a lurking Djinn threaten to tear mother and daughter apart. 'Under the Shadow' is a chilling journey into fear, anxiety, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child, all under the relentless shadow of war.

Under the Shadow is a drama movie featuring Narges Rashidi and directed by Babak Anvari.

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