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Life
in the mountainous Kurd district of northwestern Iran near the border
with Iraq is tough and full of privation. During the winter, the schnapps
smugglers are the only ones who seem to be able to move about without
difficulty in this inhospitable region, for at least they always have
something with which to warm themselves - and their horses.
Life here is also hard for five children who have lost their parents and
are struggling to make a living on their own. In addition, Madi is seriously
ill; the doctors have said that, if he isn't operated on soon, he will
die within a month.
His caring brothers and sisters look after him as best they can. Like
the others, the oldest child, Ayoub, is prepared to take on any sort of
work to try to raise the necessary money for Madi's operation.
All too aware of their dire straits, Amaneh, the older of the two girls,
decides to marry an Iraqi, who has declared his intention to help her
sick brother. As soon as they are married, her husband-to-be has promised
to take Madi with them to Iraq. However, after a long and tiring journey
to the border, the brothers and sisters are bitterly disappointed to learn
that Amaneh's husband's family flatly refuses to take on the sick boy.
Instead, they present Ayoub with a mule, telling him to use the animal
to earn a living for the family and pay for the sick brother's medical
treatment.
The children have no option but to set off on the long journey back to
their snowbound, mountainous homeland. But time is running out for Madi
and his operation...
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