Three men travel to the south of Iran, where petroleum and gas fields offer employment prospects. They don’t earn much and, like many colleagues, they sleep in empty pipes by the sea. The taxi driver Jahan dreams about a handsome well-dressed version of himself; Ghobad sends money home in cuddly toys; and Nezam tries to maintain his dignity while he clears blockages in filthy toilets. In this truly rich industry, workers have a thankless and even invisible role. Vakilifar decided to make this film about migrant workers when he discovered how the poverty-stricken men in the region still managed to form a remarkable and friendly community. Despite the tragic situation, Vakilifar’s story also offers empathy, warmth and humour. The shots are well-balanced and patient, with a major role for the roaring, alien surroundings filled with rusty constructions, screaming sirens and pipes from which flames shoot up several metres into the sky.
