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Iranian director Rafi Pitts's searing psycho-social drama It's Winter opens in wintertime Tehran, when the middle-aged Persian husband and father Mokhtar (Hashem Abdi) is suddenly laid off. Despondent, Mokhtar temporarily abandons his wife Khatoun (Mitra Hadjar), his mother-in-law, and his young daughter, and leaves the country in search of employment. Months then pass, with his family receiving no news or communication from him. During his absence, a much younger and less experienced Iranian, Marhab (Ali Nicksolat), turns up in Tehran, in search of employment as an auto mechanic. He meets Khatoun and - sensing that Mokhtar may be dead and will probably never return - courts the woman and ultimately marries her. Circumstances go completely awry, however, when Marhab acts irresponsibly by getting into an ugly dispute with his employer and is promptly fired. In a fit of rage, he decides to vandalize an automobile plant that refused to hire him. Finally, in desperation, Marhab prepares to abscond from the town (sans Khatoun) when Mokhtar unexpectedly turns up once again - and permanently changes Marhab's course.