Why does Santa Claus not come to Thailand? The question keeps rubbing 10-year-old school girl Lek (Amata Masmalai) the wrong way. After all, she desperately needs a wish and a miracle. Ideally, one that would make her drunk stepdad, who keeps beating her mom, go away. Her teacher, chalking it up to “Thailand being really far from the North Pole”, gifts Lek a doll that she calls Bella. This one-legged stuffed princess becomes Lek’s most important companion after her stepdad beats her mom to death in a drunken rage, making the girl run away from any further abuse. She is now on a journey to find a place where she truly belongs. A place she can call home.

The outset of British director Paul Spurrier’s Dreams! might be grim, but the tone is not of despair and tragedy. This independent gem unfolds like a classic from the Hollywood musical era. Not only because this Thailand-set film was entirely shot in English. Tragedy, people from all walks of life, moral lessons, as well as jaunty, hopeful tunes are the perfect ingredients for a delicious film banquet, if doused in saccharine. A nostalgic flashback to “lonely or orphaned child is looking for a family”-classics such as the musicals Oliver! (Carol Reed, 1968) and Annie (John Huston, 1982) – the exclamation mark looks like an unofficial trademark for such movies.

On her journey, Lek encounters several concepts of homes, lifestyles and moral codes. There is a spoiled rich girl who lives in a castle-like residence, but wishes for a friend. Soon enough, though, Lek has to realise that riches and luxuries can’t replace a kind heart and loyalty. Such qualities can be found in a homeless man who teaches her that appearances are not everything. His urge to tramp around the country is not for her, however. Lek also meets a quack. His free spirit impresses her, just not so much his very questionable ethics (he often cheats his clients).

Masmalai, on her acting debut, carries herself with strong grace and childlike wonder. The director sends her from the lush green Thai mountains to endless mango fields, through tiny villages to the the country’s cold and grey capital. While the English dialogue and the classic Hollywood tradition of enhancing the plot with a moody background score give the film a Western feel, the landscape is firmly rooted in Asia.

Dream! feels like a journey back to a bygone time of simplicity. Packed to the brim with heartfelt messages of courage, endurance, hope and belonging, it even provides some Christmas magic when Lek finally finds her true home. Dream! does not just carry the oneiric on its title. The entire film is a dream-like experience.

Paul Spurrier’s fifth feature film just saw its world premiere during the 33rd edition of Raindance, which takes place between June 18th and 27th.