Khaled (Michael D'Ascenzo) lives in a Toronto housing project with his mother, who is French Canadian and chronically ill. His father is Moroccan and abandoned the family when Khaled was young.
One day his mother dies, but Khaled attempts to carry on life as normal.
His life deteriorates as his landlord harasses him for overdue rent, and neighbors begin to notice the smell of decay from his apartment.
[3] At TIFF the film received an honorable mention for the FIPRESCI International Critics Award,[4] and it was later named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2001.
[5] At the 23rd Genie Awards in 2003, Mel M'Rabet received a nomination for Best Original Song, for "Ab (Father)".