“The first Iraqi film at the Cannes Film Festival to win both the Caméra d’Or and the The Directors' Fortnight Audience Award. The story takes us back to the era of Saddam Hussein’s rule, but the political narrative is masterfully conveyed through an intimate, human perspective. The soul of the film is its non-professional actors, especially the children, whose naturalness lends the story an incredible sense of authenticity. Director Hasan Hadi avoids moralizing and opts for a subtle storytelling approach that recalls the finest examples of Iraqi and Iranian cinema classics.” (Programme curator Karolis Žukas)