Louis Vuitton Hawaii International FIlm Festival 2008

11-year old Niaz shows little enthusiasm working at his father's gun shop, yet is too scared to confront his father about wanting an education. His uncle decides to take up his cause, but in the end, it is Niaz who must overcome his fear, and tell his father he does not want to do what has been expected of him since birth. This finely tuned screenplay balances the domestic conflict with scenes of Sher Alam (Niaz's father) and his friends discussing the state of things ranging from Osama bin Laden to the war on terror and, inevitably, the regional role of the U.S. These illuminating insights into how ordinary people in this region view the world deliver a vital understanding of the cultural factors surrounding Niaz's desire to look outward and better himself.