The Falconer is based on a true story about two best friends, Tariq, the son of a poor beekeeper, and Cai, a privileged Westerner with a passion for endangered animals. Their friendship is challenged when Tariq promises to help his sister, Alia, escape from an abusive marriage. Cai's worldview is pitted against Tariq's plan to steal animals from the zoo and sell them on the black market. They must wrestle with morally complex choices that reveal the vast distance between their worlds.