One evening, the peace and quiet of Esmail Shebli is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Sa'adi, an old friend he has not seen for decades. Years before, both men had been aspiring writers. Just before the Revolution, Sa'adi had emigrated to Europe; Esmail, on the contrary, had stayed on in Iran, and is now one of the country's most respected authors. Sa'adi convinces Esmail to go on a trip to the far north of the country to visit the grave of his son. Esmail agrees, and thus begins an extraordinary journey, more emotional than geographical, as each man tries to come to terms with the choices he made in life and art. Powerfully aided by two very gifted actors, Reza Kianian and Jamshid Mashayekhi, Farmanara creates a touching and wise meditation on impending mortality and the series of compromises that make up most of our lives.