Algeria, 1993. In a small village in Kabylia, shy six-year-old Ayoub reluctantly accompanies the women of his family to a village party. As they navigate the winding, rocky alleys plunged into unsettling darkness, the little "French immigrant" is teased by his cousins, his sister, and the old men they encounter along the way, all of whom sense his fear of the night. Joined by the Big Old Lady, who is missing the stool all women carry to village parties, Ayoub is given a task: to return home and fetch one for her. This marks the beginning of a strange and mystical journey where Ayoub must confront his vivid imagination to prove to the world—and to himself—that he is a big boy unafraid of the dark. On this journey, he discovers that the night is full of life, that monsters are only as strong as our fears, and that shooting stars make formidable steeds. Ultimately, Ayoub learns that to overcome his fears, he must embrace his desires, channel his imagination, and assert himself to the world.