With films like Manuscripts Don't Burn, A Man of Integrity and There is No Evil, Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof did not exactly endear himself to the authorities. Several times he clashed with the censors, with dire consequences. When it became known that his new film The Seed of the Sacred Fig had been selected for the Cannes Film Festival, this prompted the authorities to crack down hard on him: he was sentenced to eight years in prison, a large fine and a flogging. He fled the country. At Cannes, the film was awarded the Special Jury Prize, among others.

Iman, a lawyer of integrity, is appointed investigating judge by the Iranian Revolutionary Court. Good news for him and his family, as he gets to earn more and live more spaciously. However, Iman soon discovers that he has not been appointed for his legal expertise, but only to uphold death sentences passed by the court. And there are a lot of them, given the great political unrest in the country. Iman finds himself in all sorts of trouble.