Once for Ever | Yakbār barā-yi hamīshah | یکبار برای همیشه

Mahmoud (Khosrow Shakibaei), a humble building painter, is faced with a dilemma when he plans to work in Japan and realizes he needs to divorce his wife, Zahra (Fatemeh Motamedaria). In order to proceed with the divorce, they visit a notary who requests a certificate confirming Zahra’s non-pregnancy. To their surprise, the test reveals that Zahra is actually pregnant. Faced with the unexpected news, the couple considers abortion as a solution. However, the high cost and the unavailability of a reliable doctor push them towards an alternative option: an old midwife living in an abandoned bar outside the city.

Reluctantly, Zahra enters the midwife’s room, while Mahmoud encounters a grieving man who lost his wife due to a previous abortion and has come to seek justice. A heated confrontation ensues between Mahmoud, Zahra, the old midwife, and her assistants. Eventually, the couple leaves, abandoning their initial decision.

Two years later, we find Mahmoud painting their home while Zahra brings him tea. Their little son happily plays in one of the rooms, marking a new chapter in their lives.