After a civil war has devastated large parts of a country, rebels and foreign military forces attempt to seize power. Amidst the chaos, two friends, Ari and Cato, barricade themselves in an abandoned building and dream of better times.

One night, rebels storm the building. The arrival of the combat troops forces the friends to choose between the pull of power and their friendship. While Cato experiences the horrors of war in battle, Ari gains recognition from the rebel leader and begins to identify with the ideology of the fighting force. Their friendship threatens to break apart, putting Ari in a situation where he must make a deadly choice.

CHAINED by Raphael Ghobadloo uses atmospheric images to tell the story of the influence of totalitarian power structures on personal relationships. The film deals with the temptation of belonging, the price of conviction, and the breaking of trust. Without pathos, but with emotional force, a drama unfolds about identity, friendship, and free will under pressure.