Crisco, an actor, wakes up in a resort and discovers that his husband has disappeared. He struggles to find out what happened only to be told that his husband doesn't exist. While trapped, he finally finds an escape and a new idea about their relationship.

In impoverished Baghdad under Saddam's dictatorship, 16-year-old Amal hopes to regain her social status at school by volunteering to find a book as a class gift for the departing literature teacher. Meanwhile, her emotionally fragile little brother becomes obsessed with the notion that a visiting uncle from America--whom he confuses with Santa Claus--will bring him toys. Ashamed never to have been able to give his son a toy, the child's father sells some more prized family possessions and buys a model car for him.