Zīr-i pūst-i shahr (Under the Skin of the City; 2001) is the eighth feature film directed by Rakhshan Banietemad (Rakhshān Banī Iʿtimād). The story revolves around a poor Iranian family. Tūbā, a working-class woman living in poverty, does not intend to leave her humble home and prefers to stay there, unlike her husband Mahmūd and her eldest son ‛Abbās. The latter works in a garment factory and would like to visit Japan. Tūbā’s youngest son is a college student who is interested in current events and participates in political campaigns. Her eldest daughter is frequently mistreated by her husband and runs to her father’s house, while her youngest daughter, a student, is embroiled in the problems of her best friend. Tūbā’s husband and eldest son both pressure her to sell the house, but she refuses.