Southern Italy, 1948. Raised in a picturesque but poor village in the mountainous region of Calabria, the nine-year-old boy,
Rocco Granata, sees his father, Salvatore, leave the family in high hopes of creating a better future for them as a coal worker in the promised land: Belgium. As the rest of the family reunite with him one year later, right from the start, Rocco will learn firsthand the true meaning of being an immigrant--a stranger in a strange land--coming face-to-face with harsh winters, an unknown language and culture, and above all, racism. However, Rocco's desire to listen to his heart is overwhelming--and as an aspiring accordionist--Rocco summons up the courage to follow his dream, and make his fantasy come true.
—Nick Riganas