Long synopsis : Amidst the wreckage beneath the ruined statue of the Buddha, thousands of families struggle to survive. Baktay, a six-year-old Afghan girl is challenged to go to school by her neighbour's son who reads in front of their cave. Having found the money to buy a precious notebook, and taking her mother's lipstick for a pencil, Baktay sets out. On her way, she is harassed by boys playing games that mimic the terrible violence they have witnessed, that has always surrounded them. The boys want to stone the little girl, to blow her up as the Taliban blew up the Buddha, to shoot her like Americans. Will Baktay be able to escape these violent war games and reach the school?

Cast

• Abbas Alijome, Abdolali Hoseinali, Nikbakht Noruz

Crew

• Producer(s): Maysam Makhmalbaf
• Director(s): Hana Makhmalbaf
• Screenplay: Marzieh Makhmalbaf
• DP: Ostad Ali
• Editing: Mastaneh Mohajer
• Original Music: Tolibhon Shakhidi
• Set Design: Akbar Meshkini

• Original Title: CAHIER (LE)
• Genre(s): Drama


• Production company: MAKHMALBAF FILM HOUSE, WILD BUNCH
• Production date: 2007
• Language: Persian
• Duration: 81 min
• Image Ratio: 1.85
• Sound Info: Dolby SR

• Toronto International Film Festival 2007
  
• San Sebastian Film Festival 2007
  Award(s) : Special Prize of the Jury & TVE Otra Mirada Award
• Rome International Film Festival 2007
  Award(s) : Paolo Ungari UNICEF Prize
• Vilnius International Film Festival 2007
  
• Göteborg Film Festival 2008
  
• Tribeca Film Festival 2008
  
• Berlinale 2008
  Award(s) : Crystal Bear Generation Kplus - Best Feature Film, Peace Film Award
• San Francisco International Film Festival 2008
  
• Hong Kong International Film Festival 2008
  
• Seattle International Film Festival 2008
  
• Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2008
  
• T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival 2008
  
• Festival do Rio 2008
  
• Singapore International Film Festival 2009
  
• Tokyo International Film Festival 2007