NEZOUH
Genre
Drama
Running time
104 minutes
Year
2022
Language
Arabic
Subtitle
English and French
Country
United Kingdom, Syria and France
Director
Soudade Kaadan
Bio
Producer
Yu-Fai Suen, Soudade Kaadan, Marc Bordure
Cast
Kinda Alloush, Hala Zein, Samer Al Masri, Nizar Alani
Scriptwriter
Soudade Kaadan
Winner of the Audience Award at the Venice Film Festival, Nezouh – which means “displacement” – follows 14-year-old Zeina and her family as they argue over whether to abandon their war-torn home in Damascus and become refugees. Even after a missile blasts a hole in their wall, Zeina’s father Motaz refuses to quit their home, vowing to protect his family. Her mother, Hala, is more realistic about the risks of staying put, including the awful possibility that Zeina could be forcibly married off to a fighter. Zeina, meanwhile, lifts her eyes to the new gaps in her ceiling and counts the stars. Sometimes she climbs onto the roof, where she befriends the boy next door who is trying to make a film with salvaged equipment. Syrian director Soudade Kaadan’s sophomore film is full of optimism and charm, yet there is no denying her anger at the damage done in her country.
Other movies
ROSE OF NEVADA
Director: Mark Jenkin
Rose Of Nevada is eerie, poignant and the tides are treacherous in this mysterious, daring work. Having brought Enys Men to Red Sea Film Festival in 2022, Mark Jenkin returns with his unique vision in this trenchant time-travelling tale of eternal loss. Two of the UK’s most exciting young actors, George MacKay and Callum Turner, headline this story initially set in a forgotten Cornish fishing village. Nick (MacKay) is trying to fix the roof over his head when he signs up as crew on a mysterious trawler called Rose of Nevada. Liam (Turner) is the stranger who drifts into town and ends up on board. All however, is not as it seems.
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.