My Small Land (2022) Plot Summary Explained

Living in the Saitama Prefecture of Japan, Sarya, played by Lina Arashi, is a Kurdish refugee residing in an apartment with her father and two younger siblings, Arin and Mazrum. Having lost her mother in Kurdistan, Sarya's family moved to Japan to avoid political detention. While her father works at a construction site alongside other Kurds, Sarya secretly finds employment at a local convenience store. It is here that she meets Sota Zakiyama, the nephew of the store's owner, and the two develop a close friendship.

Sarya finds herself torn between two worlds: she feels a growing loyalty to her life in Japan, while her father remains deeply rooted in their Kurdish heritage. This cultural clash peaks when her father expresses his desire for her to marry a Kurdish boy, a proposal Sarya completely rejects.

The family's stability is further shaken when their plea for refugee status is denied, leaving them unable to work legally and confined to Saitama. Although Sarya introduces Sota to her father, the relationship is forbidden, leading to a violent confrontation where her father slaps her.

Tragedy strikes when the father is arrested and imprisoned for illegal employment. Believing all hope is lost, he decides to return to his homeland to face arrest. During this turmoil, Sarya also loses her job. However, their solicitor eventually reveals a bittersweet arrangement: the father accepted a deal to leave the country on the condition that his children be allowed to remain. Ultimately, Sarya and her siblings are able to stay, and she feels a deep sense of gratitude that her life can continue in Japan.