ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
Facing persecution in Iran, a young closeted gay man flees to his distant family in Scotland. Thrown into a new culture, he falls in love... only to have his freedom and life threatened anew when his asylum case is rejected.

SYNOPSIS
When the Basij (Iranian morality police) arrest and condemn his friends and lover to death for being gay, Ahrash is left with only one option. Flee! In a desperate move, Ahrash escapes to Glasgow to live with his distant family, uncle Farbod, aunt Leyla and cousin Roshan who, themselves, are not accepting of LGBTQI peoples. Seeking asylum upon arrival, he is thrown into a detention center. But by a stroke of luck, his case falls onto the desk of a passionate social worker, Irene, who is able to unite him with his relatives. Fearing that they will discover his truth, not to mention hearing stories told back home of the United Kingdom sending back refugees, Ahrash believes he still must conceal his sexuality in order to have a safe place to live.

While he waits for a decision, Ahrash joins an English class where he meets a man named Jamie. There’s a mutual spark but Ahrash is still reeling from his past and the trauma of losing his lover, Shayan. Through a series of flashbacks of Ahrash’s past, we understand how harrowing his journey has been. From his initial meeting with Shayan leading up to their eventual arrest for participating in a secret Gay Pride Parade. Through Ahrash’s experience, we witness the parallels between being a victim in his home country of Iran and now vilified for being a refugee in the U.K.

When his petition for asylum is rejected. Ahrash understands that if he wants to appeal, he must publicly come out in court. But being Iranian, Ahrash can barely say the word ‘gay’ to himself, let alone to the world. In complete denial about her nephew’s sexuality, Aunt Leyla has the perfect solution: Ahrash can marry his cousin Roshan. This way, not only will he be safe, but Leyla can control her increasingly rebellious daughter, who is drifting towards Islamic Fundamentalism.

Desperate, Ahrash accepts his aunt’s plan. But when Jamie’s furious at his decision, Ahrash knows he has to make a choice. Poised to walk up the aisle with Roshan, Ahrash finally tells the family the truth, leaving them angry and reeling.

Broken-hearted, but ready to live in the open, Ahrash challenges the Home Office by presenting new evidence to support his case—he’s a gay man from a country where gay men are routinely persecuted and murdered by the state. Ahrash is finally free and here to stay.

PROJECT TYPE Narrative Feature

DIRECTOR Darwin Serink
PRODUCER Tommee May, Chelsea Winstanley