The movie begins in an unspecified West African country, where a 12-year-old boy named Agu is seen playing with his friends and attempting to sell an "imaginary TV" to various people. Although initially rejected, Agu manages to persuade a soldier to buy the TV in exchange for food.

The narrative shifts to reveal that the country is at war, and Agu's village is a buffer zone protected by peacekeepers. Agu’s father, formerly a teacher and now a sector chief, shelters refugees, while Agu’s mother cares for the family, including Agu’s older brother and younger sister.