Five years after the infamous chemical and biological bombing of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan by the Iraqi military, Diyari returns to his homeland to build an orphanage in what is left of the town. He meets Jiyan, a ten-year old orphan and a survivor of the chemical attack, doomed to live with a burn scar covering most of her right cheek. A strong bond between the two ensues and later he names his orphanage after her. During the course of his stay in Halabja, Diyari meets a colorful bunch of townsfolk, many of whom remain physically and/or psychologically marked with the effects of the chemical agents. Among them is Jiyan's only living relative, Shérco. In addition to building the orphanage, Diyari brings a spark of hope and happiness to Shérco's and Jiyan's lives.

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