In this story of exile and homecoming, director Ali Raffi reveals a glimpse into the lives of modern Iranian women. After more than two decades in prison, a man named Aziz (Reza Kianian) returns to his home near the Caspian Sea. In the intervening years his longtime love Atieh (Roya Nonahali), not understanding the circumstances behind his departure and extended absence, had taken over his large house and opened a successful restaurant. Fearing that she would be forced to leave, Atieh hedges her bets by cooking a succession of delectable meals that her daughter Touka (Golshifteh Farahani) delivers to his room. Over dinner and time Aziz discovers that Touka is undergoing a similar crisis to the one he put her mother through—a man she loves has abruptly left town. As these three characters tread gently over each other’s feelings, teasing out past and present longings and difficulties, a gallery of subsidiary characters in and outside of the kitchen adds its opinions to the fray. The result is a mouth-watering, touching film about food, family and friendship.

Written by Ali Raffi. Photographed by Mahmoud Kalari. With Goshifteh Farahani, Maryam Saadat, Reza Kianian (96 min, Global Film Initiative).