TEHRAN — The documentary feature At the Foot of Nook-e Dinge, directed and produced by Habibollah Yar, was unveiled Tuesday evening, at Tehran’s Arasbaran Cultural Center, in a ceremony attended by filmmakers, writers, poets and artists.
Taking a social approach to rural life, the 46-minute documentary follows villagers as well as urban residents drawn to the idea of living in the countryside, portraying both the tranquility and hardships of village life and the realities that lie beyond its romantic appeal.
Water scarcity is at the center of the film. Through the lives of four rural and urban characters, Yar explores the challenges facing farmers and the damage caused by drought, while also examining why some people are seeking a return to village life.
The film was shot in Blouband village, in the Kharqan District of Markazi Province, at the foot of Mount Nook-e Dinge. Footage from different seasons captures the changing landscape of the village, while traditional music and local Turkish poetry form part of the documentary’s visual and cultural texture.
Speaking on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony, Yar referred to the more than 1.2 million retirees in Iran and said many move to villages either permanently or seasonally on medical advice or in search of cleaner air. 
He added that many younger people are also interested in living and working in rural areas, but water shortages and inadequate infrastructure remain serious obstacles to such a return.
“We tried to accompany the lives of these groups and show both the pleasures and concerns of living in the countryside,” Yar said.
He described his mission as portraying “the beauty and truth of rural life,” while maintaining hope that its shortcomings can be addressed and its problems brought into view.
“Nook-e Dinge is not only the name of a mountain in Blouband village,” Yar said. “It is a symbol of all the foothills of Iran where rural communities are grappling with similar problems.”
The ceremony concluded with poetry readings centered on rural life and memories of the countryside, drawing applause from the audience.