The Lion Women of Tehran

In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie enjoys a life of luxury until her father’s sudden death forces her and her mother to relocate to a cramped downtown home. Isolated and burdened by her mother's constant complaints, Ellie longs for a friend to ease her loneliness. On her first day of school, she meets Homa, a warm, passionate girl with an adventurous and resilient spirit. The two quickly bond, playing games, learning to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s cozy home, exploring the vibrant Grand Bazaar, and sharing their dreams of becoming “lion women.” 

But their happiness is short-lived when Ellie and her mother are offered the chance to return to their former life of comfort. Now a popular student at the best girls’ school in Iran, Ellie begins to forget her time with Homa. Years later, however, Homa’s unexpected return to Ellie’s privileged world shifts the course of both their lives. As the two women come of age and chase their individual dreams, they must navigate a rapidly changing political landscape in Iran. But when an earth-shattering betrayal occurs, the consequences are felt far beyond their friendship.