Due to high tax and extortion by the government, on top of low harvest, the country went to Leprosy, killing 60 to 80% of county's population.
In the meantime, WWII was escalating, forcing Iran to join the war to provide passage for the UK, US and Soviets Union troops. The invading forces demanded food and free labour from the locals to help them build the railway. (Granted not all of them were as forceful but the good ones were rarer than the others)
The Railway in question is called the Persian Corridor. It was extended to benefit the war needs without any regards to the locals and natural habitats or thee damages to the area. Goal was to get crates and resources to the North West of Iran.
In games backstory, the village was "asked" to provide the Foreign Army and Engineers food and medicine. Even though the village had recently been hit with a wave of Leprosy. Providing said food and medicine would push the villagers to the edge of death, dropping their rate of survival. The wave of Leprosy killed reasonable amount of the village population, including the protagonists Mother the day before the beginning of the game.
Any death in any family is dealt differently. In this family, The father has drowned himself with work (servicing and helping other villagers) so he wouldn't have to accept the reality of the situation. This has pushed the family into an awkward relationship.
The Eldest son is dealing with his trauma and demons by leaning and feeding into his anger. Using the Invaders as an excuse to lash out, becoming the rebellious child as the irresponsibility of his fathers actions (Not taking care of his own family instead of taking care of others) has pushed him further from his father and his beliefs. If the father says it's raining, he would say its Sunny. However, he still is trying to keep his relationship with his younger brother, the protagonist.
The protagonist is 8-ish years old and the concept of death is very new to him. To deal with this trauma, he is escaping the reality with the stories his mother used to read. The adventures of Rostam from the Book of Kings by Fardousi. Which would be the source of his powers that give him the courage to deal with the tasks that are typically difficult or scary for him
Many of the villagers including the eldest son of the chief of village (Elder Brother). His personality leans toward resistance and rebellious actions against the foreign forces.
His fathers beliefs are leaned toward passive agreements, letting the army have what they need and causing no trouble so there wouldn't be any unnecessary bloodshed.