HATCH
Genre
Drama
Running time
11 minutes
Year
2024
Language
English and Arabic
Subtitle
English and Arabic
Country
Canada and Iran
Director
Alireza Kazemipour, Panta Mosleh
Bio
Producer
Sina Nazarian, Panta Mosleh, Alireza Kazemipour
Cast
Aixa Kay, Ali Eldurssi, Helena Marie
Scriptwriter
Alireza Kazemipour
Naaji and his mother are among a handful of Afghan refugees hidden in the tank of a water truck, trying to cross a border. The tank hatch opens with a snap. Far below, the smuggled people try to stay underwater, dodging the guards’ flashlight beams and holding their breath until the guards spot the water swirling. As their hopes of escape get shattered, we become immersed in the tank with them. Naaji will get a second chance, but nothing will erase this trauma.
Other movies
KWIBUKA, REMEMBER
Director: Jonas D'adesky
In Kwibuka, Remember, Jonas D’Adesky tells the story of Lia, a Belgian-Rwandan basketball player facing the twilight of her career. Twenty years after fleeing the genocide, she is asked to join the Rwandan national basketball team. This journey stirs buried memories of a painful past: exile, family silences and the pain of a fractured identity. Through her eyes, the film explores confrontation between memory and the present, and a nation scarred by tragedy with a contemporary Rwanda brimming with life and creativity. The strength of Kwibuka, Remember lies in the delicate handling of generational trauma while highlighting collective hope. Balancing intimacy and history, the film transcends personal drama to deliver a universal story of resilience.
HIJRA
Director: Shahad Ameen
A grandmother and her two granddaughters journey from Taif to Mecca. When the eldest granddaughter vanishes, the two remaining women travel north to find her, with their search highlighting the deep cultural and generational bonds between Saudi women. Set against the backdrop of the Hajj pilgrimage, Hijra portrays the intimate and emotional odyssey of these women, which evolves into a spiritual quest. Their journey carries the weight of an entire heritage and offers an emotional, powerful and insightful look at identity. Shot across eight Saudi cities, the film provides a deep dive into the nation’s rich cultural tapestry. Actress Khairia Nazmi infuses the story with profound emotion due to her strength and energy.
GIRL
Director: Shu Qi
Superstar Shu Qi, icon of Asian cinema and muse of Hou Hsiao-hsien, makes her directorial debut with this self-penned, deeply personal coming-of-age drama. In a cramped home ruled by abuse, young teenager Lin Xiaoli keeps her head down, caring for her little sister while her father’s drunken rages cascade into her mother’s cruelty. Everything shifts when she befriends Li Lili, a rebellious classmate who skips class, smokes and urges Xiaoli to challenge the family’s toxic status quo. As escape glimmers, Shu Qi films with poised restraint, observing at a remove and tuning the viewer to intimate, everyday textures with a quietly harrowing strength. Tender yet unsentimental, Girl finds fragile beauty amid hurt and announces a formidable new directorial voice.
THE SETTLEMENT
Director: Mohamed Rashad
When 23-year-old Hossam's father dies in a factory accident, management of the factory offer a deal: a job for Hossam and his younger brother, 12-year-old Maro, in exchange for burying the truth. With a criminal record and a disabled mother to support, Hossam has little choice but to accept the job, even as his brother insists on working beside him. Hossam is pulled in multiple directions — between the truth of his father's death, a first love affair with a disappearing coworker and his community's dark reputation. This thriller has an intriguing atmosphere, and to emphasize the characters' oppression, director Mohamed Rashad uses sound — especially the overwhelming noise of the factory machines — to immerse the audience in a corrupt world.