Layla's Melody

Sometimes, 11-year-old Layla is jealous of her friends at the music school in Kabul. Their families visit them regularly, and they often return from summer vacation wearing new clothes. But even though she misses out on some things, this little Afghan girl is happy. After the Taliban murdered Layla's father in their home village when she was very young, her uncle sent her to the orphanage in Kabul where she lives to this day. Layla hasn't seen her mother for five years now, but then her uncle calls her out of the blue with the great news that her mother is in the city and wants to meet her. Layla immediately discusses the issue with her girlfriends. She is delighted but also concerned, because in the village she comes from, children of her age have to get married. Is that the reason her mother is suddenly in town? Despite her young age, Layla already knows for sure that she doesn't want to return to her village: "I'd have to obey some man who would steal my future." Her heart full of conflicting feelings, she gets into her uncle's car to go to her mother. While Layla naturally wants to hug her, she's apprehensive about the possible loss of her present life and dreams of the future.