Mirtemir is growing up in Nukus, a dusty city caught between the desert and the dead Aral Sea. His mother has moved away to earn money in a neighbouring country, as he waits tables during the day and entertains people through karaoke by night. Days full of hard work and responsibility, too demanding even for an adult, are nonetheless full of joy and adolescent bliss. A lyrical documentary, it captures the generosity of spirit that flourishes even in the face of poverty.