The Neighbor

Shirin lives in Vancouver. Estranged from her mother, and involved in a long-distance relationship that seems to be hitting a dead end, she tries to keep her life together as best as she can. She supports herself as a folk dancer and instructor, but it’s her passion for Tango and her relationship with her grandmother, in her native Iran, that give her the most joy. Her routine is disrupted when a young woman, Leila, moves in next door. Shirin tries to befriend her, but Leila seems aloof. Soon Shirin discovers that Leila has a small child whom she often leaves by herself. Their worlds intersect as the dancer confronts Leila about her daughter. Leila denies her allegations, but finally, desperate and lonely, she seeks out for her neighbor’s help. Shirin and Parisa, Leila’s five years old daughter, bond over the course of the next few weeks. One night, Leila does not come back home. As Shirin anxiously tries to find her, she starts reconciling her own unresolved relationship with her mother. –São Paulo International Film Festival