Fereshteh loses her home and her two sons after her husband's accidental death when Hadj Safdar, her stubborn and powerful father-in-law, forces her to return to her parents. She is faced with the loss of her visitation rights when Hadj plans to send his grandchildren to live in a remote town. With the help of her circle of women friends she tries to take them beyond his reach, but in a patriarchal society it is hard to find a safe haven.

Mahtab lives in Tehran in 1996, along with her 10-year-old child, Erfan. She has got divorced from her husband, Morteza, who is in jail. Mahtab has enrolled her child in a karate class so that he does not end up like his father as far as his character is concerned.

Based on true events, this movie depicts of the sacrifices made by the Iranian Air Force at the unset of the Iran-Iraq war. In particular the story of the fighter pilot Yadi Sharifirad based in second tactical airbase of Tabriz.

"From Afar" traces the malaise of a young artist and intellectual in three episodes: Book Burning, Breathing and Dawn. The Young protagonist lives in contemporary Tehran and he appears as a film student, an asthmatic businessman and a successful architect. In each story, he journeys toward a spiritual insight or emotion.