A Hero 2022

Rahim Soltani is granted a temporary release from prison for two days to resolve a debt of 150,000 tomans owed to his brother-in-law, Bahram. During this brief freedom, Rahim’s companion, Farkondeh, stumbles upon a lost handbag filled with gold coins. Eager to settle the outstanding debt, they attempt to sell the coins, only to find that gold has significantly depreciated, making it impossible for Rahim to fully repay Bahram. Seeking shelter, he moves in with his sister, Malileh, and her husband, Hossein.

When Malileh discovers the handbag, she confronts Rahim, prompting him to track down the original owner and return the bag. After the rightful owner claims it—thanks to Rahim’s claim that he found it—he earns widespread acclaim and becomes the subject of media attention, turning him into a local hero before he has to return to his prison cell. However, Bahram grows suspicious of Rahim’s newfound fame, suspecting it’s an attempt to restore his reputation and sabotage Bahram’s ex-wife’s upcoming remarriage. As discussions about Rahim’s possible release from prison begin, a charity event is held to raise funds for his debt.

During this event, Bahram becomes furious upon learning that only a fraction of the debt has been collected. He reveals to the organizers that Rahim had borrowed money from him to settle the debts from a loan shark, which only deepens the complications. Yet, for the sake of his estranged son, Siavash, Bahram reluctantly agrees to Rahim’s provisional release.

Amidst growing doubts about his honesty, Rahim finds himself in a precarious position, as he tries to locate the woman from whom he supposedly found the handbag. After fruitless attempts, he and Malileh concoct a plan for Farkondeh to impersonate this woman, using the details from their encounter to bolster Rahim’s story. However, the hiring manager rejects Rahim’s job application when he produces evidence indicating that Rahim had texted Bahram about paying only half of the debt prior to finding the handbag.

Convinced that Bahram had leaked the incriminating text, Rahim confronts him, leading to a heated altercation that ends with police intervention. Fortunately, Farkondeh persuades Bahram to release Rahim, but their troubles only escalate when a video made by Nazanin, Bahram’s daughter, surfaces. This footage shows not only the fight between Rahim and Bahram but also reveals the nature of Rahim and Farkondeh’s relationship. Nazanin threatens public exposure unless Rahim can pay his debt in full by the next day.

With his honor and reputation on the line, Rahim faces mounting pressure and ultimately decides to come clean about the handbag. Meanwhile, the charity organization, fearing scandal, opts to keep the raised funds on hold. On the final day of his leave, Rahim learns that the donations intended for him will now assist in the release of a man on death row. To salvage some dignity, Farkondeh convinces the organizer to publicly credit Rahim for this act of kindness.

As Nazanin’s video gains traction, Farkondeh’s family forbids her from seeing Rahim, deepening the rift between them. In a bid to soften the public backlash, Siavash’s parole officer, Salehi, orchestrates a video of Rahim’s “latest charitable act.” He pressures Siavash to cry on cue, but Rahim, intent on shielding his son from further turmoil, begs for the video to remain under wraps. When Salehi refuses, a physical altercation ensues, ending only after Rahim forces him to delete it.

The next day, Farkondeh and Siavash escort Rahim back to prison, marking the return to his sentence—and to the complex web of family drama and societal pressures surrounding them.