The international success of Iranian cinema over the years may have veiled the fact that its filmmakers work under harsh circumstances rarely seen elsewhere. This film explores Iranian censorship codes by analyzing dozens of clips from mainstream and art films. It features interviews with 12 Iranian filmmakers, including Jafar Panahi, Bahman Ghobadi, and Oscar-winning Asghar Farhadi. It also documents the brave efforts of those filmmakers whose independence has been punished by being banned from working, imprisonment, and forced exile.