In impoverished Baghdad under Saddam's dictatorship, 16-year-old Amal hopes to regain her social status at school by volunteering to find a book as a class gift for the departing literature teacher. Meanwhile, her emotionally fragile little brother becomes obsessed with the notion that a visiting uncle from America--whom he confuses with Santa Claus--will bring him toys. Ashamed never to have been able to give his son a toy, the child's father sells some more prized family possessions and buys a model car for him.
as Amal
as Amal's Mother
as Amal's Father
as Hala (as May El Calamawy)
as Mr. Kareem
as Student 1
as Student 2
as Rafeeka
as Deena
as Bilal
as Sami
as Bilal's Teacher
as Uncle Omar
as Fareeda
as Fareeda's Son
as Fareeda's Daughter
as Book Merchant
