Based on an idea by Abbas Kiarostami (the director's mentor), The Deserted Station is an off-the-road road movie, where an unexpected detour offers a far greater gain than the eventual destination. A young urban couple-a well-known photographer and a former schoolteacher-are on a pilgrimage for a healthy childbirth when their car breaks down, stranding them in an isolated village. Most of the able-bodied residents have left to find work elsewhere; seemingly the only adult left behind is the village mechanic and teacher Feizollah (Rajabi, one of Iran's greatest comedians, in a strong role). While Feizollah and the husband attempt to fix the car, the wife takes over the village classroom, with intoxicating results. She discovers the world she was traveling to pray for: a world of children. The serene pacing and epic visions of deserted landscapes and abandoned buildings add to the film's eerie, almost fable-like aura. The children's vibrant presence within such desolation offers the only hope for a better future.