A young Iranian mother takes refuge in an Australian women's shelter with her six-year-old daughter during the two weeks of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Her path to freedom is jeopardised when her estranged husband arrives.

A journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings of sex workers by the so-called Spider Killer, who believes he is cleansing the streets of sinners.