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
MY FATHER'S SCENT
Director: Mohamed Siam
A tense, poetic odyssey unfolds over one night as a father and son confront each other, aiming to settle old scores. Confined to a single apartment, their raw, emotional confrontation quickly escalates, peeling back layers of a fraught relationship. This gripping family drama forces a poignant reflection: if granted one final night with a lost loved one, would you seek vengeance or reconciliation? With powerful performances, the film is a sensitive, intimate and profound exploration of the complex, enduring bond between father and son.
THE WORLD OF LOVE
Director: Yoon Ga-Eun
How do we rebuild our sense of self after deep emotional wounds? The World Of Love, the latest from Korean director Yoon Ga-eun, offers a moving portrait of a teenager navigating trauma with unexpected honesty and detachment. Jooin (Seo Su-bin), appears cheerful and outspoken, but her confidence masks a more painful past. Rather than focusing on suffering, the film explores resilience and the subtle power of reclaiming one’s own story. With understated direction and a remarkable performance from Chang Hyae-jin as Jooin’s mother, Yoon brings a lyrical sensitivity to the emotional terrain of family relationships and adolescence. Grounded and quietly courageous, The World Of Love is a deeply human story of survival and the quiet triumph of emotional healing.
YUNAN
Director: Ameer Fakher Eldin
Haunted by a cryptic family parable, Munir (Georges Khabbaz) flees to a remote island to contemplate a drastic decision. Here he encounters the enigmatic Valeska and her rough, loyal son, Karl. With few words exchanged and quiet acts of kindness, suspicion dissolves, easing Munir’s burden and reigniting his desire to live. Much like the prophet Jonah, who was spit out by the sea and then returned to land, Munir finds himself a stranger in the world, struggling with alienation and aborted dreams. As his mother's memory fades, he also struggles to recall a story about a cursed shepherd his mother told him. A captivating visual fable, the film immerses us in Munir's consuming frustration. "This film contains scenes that may be considered sensitive for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised"