Mahboba Rawi, a strong-willed Afghan-Australian woman and the founder of Mahboba’s Promise, has dedicated her life to helping orphans and widows in Afghanistan. Abdul, one of these orphans, is in love with Fatemeh, the girl next door. The two have been exchanging romantic letters for over a year and hope to marry one day. But Fatemeh’s father has decided to marry her off to anyone who can offer a large sum of money as her dowry. Devastated, Abdul is hoping when Mahboba arrives for her yearly visit to Kabul, she will help him again.

However, Fatemeh’s father makes demands beyond anyone’s expectations. He won’t let the marriage happen unless Mahboba pays him $10,000 or finds a wife for his eldest son to replace Fatemeh’s role in the household. With nothing to Abdul’s name, the fate of the couple depends entirely on Mahboba’s ability to meet or negotiate the father’s terms. But she only has one month and limited resources.

AFI DOCS 2015
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2015
Silk Road Film Festival 2015
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival 2015
Margaret Mead Film Festival 2015
Winner – Sydney Film Festival – Audience Award 2014
Winner – Canberra International Film Festival 2014
Finalist – Walkley Awards 2014
Finalist – Australian Film Critics Award 2015
Finalist – Australian Editors Guild 2015
Winner – Australian Director’s Guild 2015
Winner – Fajr International Film Festival 2016