- Ibrahim, a Moroccan soldier, is sent to a deserted island off the Mediterranean coast of Morocco to monitor the movements of smugglers and illegal immigrants. One day, Ibrahim finds a Sub-Saharan man, Mamadou, washed up on the beach. While the unlikely pair tries to survive on the miniscule island, they inadvertently trigger a diplomatic incident that crescendos into a regional military crisis.—DS
- Ibrahim, a Moroccan man in his 40s who lives in a small village in the north of Morocco, is a soldier, husband and father of four children. One morning when he reports for duty, his captain orders him to prepare for a special mission. He is given the responsibility of monitoring the illegal immigrant traffic on the Mediterranean coast between Morocco and Spain. He is to be based on a small, deserted island located a few hundred meters off of the African continent.
After a difficult crossing, Ibrahim arrives on the miniscule island with half of his supplies soaking wet. His radio no longer works.
Now completely alone, he finds shelter in a military bunker, abandoned from a much earlier international conflict. He moves in and begins to construct his existence. To create some semblance of normality, Ibrahim tours the island every morning and collects the objects washed up on the beaches.
One morning during a routine inspection, the Spanish naval service (Guardia Civil), observes the Moroccan flag floating in the wind over the island. Since the island is supposed to be under Spanish jurisdiction, this piece of intelligence quickly arrives to the offices of the central government in Madrid, and the incident takes on another dimension, one amplified far beyond the reality of the situation.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim has learned how to survive on the barren island, despite the diminishing supply of water and a broken radio. But one day he stumbles across a Sub-Saharan man, Mamadou, lying unconscious on the beach. He was the only survivor from a boat of illegal immigrants that had perished during a storm.
Despite initial mistrust, Ibrahim gradually gets to know and understand his African «prisoner», and the two become friends. They join forces in their combat to stay alive on the island. One evening Mamadou tells him about the perilous journey across the Sahara to the Mediterranean in his attempt to get to Europe.
Unbeknownst to them, Ibrahims official presence on the small island is now having international repercussions. The Spanish military prepares to take the island by force. The Moroccan and Spanish diplomats begin negotiations. And, eventually, the United States is forced to take a position in the mediation.
Spain sends in its special forces to occupy the island and Ibrahim is evacuated. He returns to his family and small village with a heros welcome.
The tiny island once again becomes a no mans land, neither Spanish, nor Moroccan. Mamadou, who had lain low during the invasion, comes out of hiding and begins a new life.
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