"When they become adults how will these children, who mock the game of war in childhood, play with each other and with the future of humanity?" - filmmaker Hana Makhmalbaf

In 2001 the Taliban destroyed two gigantic 5th century statues of Buddha in the mountains of Balmian, in Afghanistan. In the caves of those mountains lives six-year-old Baktay, whose cave-neighbour Abbas fascinates her with tales of going to school.

In an attempt to overcome her poverty and get an education, Baktay sets out on a journey to get a notebook and pen, but first must face bullies whose childhood games act out the cruelty of the Taliban.

Winner of the Crystal Bear for Best Feature Film and the Peace Film Award at the 2008 Berlin International Film Festival.
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D Hana Makhmalbaf P Maysam Makhmalbaf S Marzieh Makhmalbaf Dist Hopscotch L Persian w/English subtitles
TD digibeta/2007/77mins