All of the child actors in this movie were actual refugees.
The first film to be made in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Red Fish, which appear commonly throughout the film, are one of the seven symbols of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, and symbolize life within life. Ironically, Nowruz is on March 20, the day the United States staged the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, during which the film takes place.
Selected as Iran's submission in the Best Foreign Film category for the 2004 Oscars.
Bahman Ghobadi's 3rd feature film.