“Zīr-e Derakhtān-e Zeytūn” is a 1994 Iranian drama film directed and written by Abbas Kiarostami. He was selected as Iran's representative at the 1995 Oscars, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
A film crew arrives in a small town in northern Iran, devastated by an earthquake, to make a film. Hossein (Hossein Rezai) is hired to be the protagonist. As it happens, the actress opposite him is Tahere (Tahere Ladanian), a young woman he is in love with; however, Tahere's family did not allow her to marry Houssein, as he was poor and illiterate.
While Hossein says all his lines, Tahere remains silent. The director discovers Hossein's platonic love for Tahere. After some pressure, Tahereh accepts to act normally and begins to fulfill his work... But it's not easy, because, in the story being filmed, they are newlyweds. In the intervals between takes, Hossein tries in every way to get an answer from his beloved. However, she remains silent.