There Is No Evil 2021

The film unfolds through four distinct, yet interconnected episodes, each narrating the complex human emotions tied to moral dilemmas.

Episode I: “There Is No Evil”

In this episode, we follow a man named Heshmat as he navigates his seemingly mundane daily routine. He starts by assisting his neighbors in rescuing a cat, later picking up his wife and daughter from their respective workplaces and school. They visit his mother-in-law, where he engages warmly with his family. The night before attending a wedding, he aids his wife in putting highlights in her hair. However, the next day, the tones of normalcy clash with the weight of his responsibilities as he drives to work with an evident sense of dread. At his job, he faces a grim task—the execution of several condemned prisoners.

Episode II: “She Said: ‘You Can Do It’”

In the second episode, Pouya, a soldier, is confronted with a harrowing order: to execute a man. Struggling with the moral implications, he seeks assistance through his brother’s connections in hopes of avoiding this fate. As he converses with his bunkmates, he expresses his internal conflict, particularly about how mandatory conscription restricts his ability to leave the country with his girlfriend Tahmineh. While discussing the grim situation, another soldier decides to take Pouya’s place for a hefty sum, but moral debates ensue as Pouya wrestles with his fate. In a desperate escape attempt, he overpowers several soldiers, discards the execution rifle, and reunites with Tahmineh for a fleeting moment of joy.

Episode III: “Birthday”

The narrative shifts focus to Javad, a young man on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend Na’na during her birthday celebration. However, the air is thick with tension as the family mourns the death of a political activist, Keyvan, whose ideals starkly oppose Javad’s own. Struggling with feelings of guilt, Javad comes to a shocking realization—he was complicit in Keyvan’s execution during his service, an act that sends his relationship with Na’na into a tailspin. As familial reflections and celebrations intertwine, the weight of his choices drives a wedge between him and Na’na, culminating in her heartbreak and swift exit from their relationship.

Episode IV: “Kiss Me”

Finally, the last episode centers on university student Darya who visits her relatives, Bahram and Zaman, at their countryside home. Unbeknownst to her, Bahram is gravely ill, which deepens their conversations about life choices and ethical dilemmas, particularly concerning the killing of wildlife to protect livestock. A confrontation ensues when Zaman finally reveals that Bahram is, in fact, Darya’s biological father, a truth laden with torment for both. As he recounts the sacrifices made to ensure her safety, including separating from his family after refusing to execute someone, Bahram’s health deteriorates, leading to a critical moment that intertwines her departure with an emotional farewell. Darya’s fleeting glimpse of a fox in the brush serves as a poignant metaphor for the choices faced by her family amid the tragedies of their past.