This is the first film to be made in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. Previously all filming had been banned.
The actors in the film, all amateurs, are people of the city of Kabul. Siddiq Barmak found the main character, Marina Golbahari, on the streets of Kabul.
Director Siddiq Barmak was helped in the making of his film by leading Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf who gave him $100,000 funding and the 35mm cameras and equipment he needed. Makhmalbaf also persuaded his regular cinematographer Ebrahim Ghafori to work on the project.
Official submission of Afghanistan for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 76th Academy Awards in 2004.