It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as an Algerian submission.

[1] The film is based on a true story, originally recounted in a novel by Duyen Anh.

(The title 'Dust of Life' refers to the Vietnamese word for children of such mixed Amerasian parentage.)

Son is taken away from his mother and confined to a labour camp, where life is harsh and chances of release slim.

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