Following the arrest of her husband, Amina has to leave the city of Marrakech with her seven-year-old son, Medhi. She moves in with her father-in-law, Ahmed, in a village near the city. Medhi believes that his father has gone to work in France: his mother and grandfather maintain this illusion for his sake. Ahmed’s land has been confiscated following his son’s arrest and all he has left is his furniture that he sells off piece by piece… At school, Medhi has the privileged task of looking after the teacher’s chair. His relationship with the village, his friends and the world revolves around this object. Amina and Ahmed’s main concern is to spare Medhi, but at what cost? The fragile balance of their lives threatens to explode every day…

2003:

Festival de Cannes - Un certain Regard :

Prix Un Premier Regard

Prix de la Jeunesse

Alexandrie/ Egypte : Prix spécial du jury

Namur/ Belgique : Prix spécial du jury

MidEast FF - Beirut / Liban :

Prix du meilleur réalisateur

Festival d'Ajaccio/ France :

Prix spécial du jury- Kallisté d'Argent

Damas FF/ Syrie :

Prix" First Alphabet" d'Argent

Prix du meilleur film arabe

2004:

Fribourg IFF / Suisse : Prix Œcuménique

Milan / Italie : Grand Prix

Prix du Jury