Gijon International Film Festival
* Best Director
* Best Screenplay

Fajr Film Festival
* Crystal Simorgh

NOMINATED:
European Film Awards - Screen International Award
Golden Satellite Awards - Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language

SYNOPSIS:
Lateef(Hossein Abedini), a good-hearted yet mischievous boy, works as a caretaker on a construction site, providing tea and food to the Afghan worker who work illegally for scant wages.The site boss, a kind but frugal man named Memar(Mohammad Amir Naji), provides Lateef with only a small weekly allowance and holds onto the remainder of his wages claiming it is for his own good.

When an Afghan worker, Najaf, suffers a fall on the construction site, he cannot tell the authorities where or how he got injured due to his illegal working status. This incident threatens everyone's jobs. The following day, an Afghan worker and a family friend of Najaf's, Soltan(Abbas Rahimi) arrives to work with the injured man's son, Rahmat(Zahra Bahrami). Soltan convinces Memar that Rahmat can fill in for his father. Memar reluctly agrees.

Initially Lateef tries to help the newcomer but Rahmat is not meant for such physical labor. After Rahmat drops a heavy load, Memar reassigns Lateef to the hard construction work and Rahmat to the less taxing caretaking duties. Resentful over his new assignment, Lateef sabotages Rahmat--smashing up the caretaker's room and even throwing water at him. But in one moment, Lateef's attitude suddenly changes.

Lateef hears singing and turns his attention to the caretaker's room. Behind the curtain, Lateef sees a beautiful girl, and watches as she brushes her long hair. Lateef is instantly taken with her. He sets out to impress her and his affections are returned when she silently leaves tea for him on a makeshift table.

Government inspectors visit the site, which comes at a high price--all the Afghan workers are let go, including the Afghani girl. Feeling lonely, Lateef finds a black hair barrette that he keeps as a reminder of her.

Lateef tracks down Soltan, who tells him where his beloved now works. He watches her dangerously haul heavy rocks and is moved to help her. Lateef begs the site-boss, Memar for his uncollected wages. Lateef then gives all his money to Soltan so he can pass it onto the girl's father. But Soltan, also under desperate times, keeps the money for himself--leaving a devastated Lateef a note, promising the return of the money soon.

Distraught, Lateef goes to Najaf's house and learns of Rahmat's true identity. Lateef's devotion to his love, leads him to a choice that will change his life forever.