A gentle coming-of-age story of Ali, a village boy who dreams of becoming a boxer. Ali’s small but genial world expands when a sophisticated new English teacher, Miss Liew arrives in his class and distributes fiction books to the students. Meanwhile, Ali’s best friend Hassan is involved in a blossoming romance with the upwardly mobile Nora, while Ali’s divorced father, Mr. Budiman, is pursued by their neighbor, Leana, in love and by loan sharks for his gambling debts. Ali must discover how to appreciate his present environment while keeping his sight on the greater things to come.