FRAGMENTS FROM HEAVEN
Other movies
LOST LAND
Director: Akio Fujimoto
In this quietly powerful, first-ever Rohingya-language feature, Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimoto offers a haunting, intimate portrait of two siblings fleeing persecution in Myanmar. With nothing but vague directions and each other, nine-year-old Somira and her younger brother Shafi begin a harrowing journey to join an uncle in Malaysia, crossing borders by sea and land and navigating a world shaped by smugglers, fear and exploitation. With a cast of non-professional actors, most of whom lived refugee experiences, the film blends realism with lyrical restraint. Eschewing melodrama for quiet observation, Fujimoto captures the disorientation of displacement and the uncertainty of fragile hopes. Lost Land is a timely, deeply human reflection on survival, resilience and the Rohingya’s eternal search for a place to call home.
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Director: Anas Ba-Tahaf
A quirky love story set against the bustling backdrop of Jeddah. Convinced a generational curse will kill her on her 30th birthday, the superstitious Hayat is ready to embrace fate. Meanwhile the brilliant but shy heart surgeon Yousef suffers from a slow heartbeat, finding his only thrill when holding a scalpel. He grapples with a hidden urge to kill, which he suppresses until he meets Hayat. Fate entwines the woman who wants to die and the man who wants to kill, setting a tragic plan in motion. Everything falls into place until a life-affirming love intervenes. This exceptional tale, brought to life by a witty script and cast, uses the city’s stunning Red Sea scenery to explore the unpredictable beauty of life and connection.