
ApoignantyetunderstatedfilmwhichfocusesontheeverydayhardshipsofanisolatedIraniancommunityontheborderwithAfghanistan,Delbarancentresonthestoryofa14-yearAfghanrefugeeworkinginatruckstopinthe'town'whichgivesitsnametothefilm.Thefilmisunusualinhavingverylittledialogueandoffersnothingbywayofexplanationofthewidercontextofwarandcross-bordermigrationwhichformsthebackdroptotheeventsthatareportrayed.Thecharactersinthefilmarealltooawareoftheconflictandthesoundsofautomaticweaponsarealwayswithinearshot,buttheyaresomuchanacceptedpartoftheirlivesthattheyfeelnoneedtocommentonthem.Andthatisoneofthestrengthsofthefilmthatmakesitsocompellingaportraitoflifeinthisremotecommunity.Atonelevel,verylittleseemstogooninthefilmwhichhasthefeelofadocumentarywithoutavoiceover.Infact,alothappensoffcamera,asrevealedbyindirectimagesandsounds,butthemainemphasisofthefilmistheextraordinaryyethumdrumnatureoflifeinamarginalizedcommunity.Thefilmhasadistinctivelookandfeel,withanemphasisonimages,movementandsound,and,althoughonewouldbehardpressedtoidentifyaconventionalnarrativestructureormessage,thereareaspectsthatresonateinthemindlongafterwatchingit.Arecurringimageisofthreeorevenfourmenridingasinglemotorbikebackandforthalongadustymountainroad.Anespeciallypoignantmomentinafilminwhichthehardshipsoflifemeanthatthecharactershardlyevershowgreatemotion,iswhenthecentralcharacterofthe14-yearoldboy,Kaim,isofferedmedicalhelpforanearinfection:hissmilelightsupthescreenatthissmallactofhumankindness.Highlyrecommended.