Iranian interpreter Fariba (Jasmin Tabatabai) escapes to Germany to avoid capital punishment for homosexual activity, but her application for political asylum is denied. Awaiting deportation, Fariba gains a new identity when fellow Iranian refugee Siamak (Navid Akhavan) kills himself. Disguising herself as a male, Fariba is released from detention as Siamak. Fariba begins working in a small-town factory while saving money for a fake passport that will let her live as a woman again.