SAEED'S DAY

Other movies
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.
BARNI
Director: Mohammed Sheikh
Barni, the debut feature by Mohammed Sheikh, tells the poignant story of a nine-year-old girl who disappears after a wedding celebration in a quaint Somali village. Her 18-year-old sister, Amina, along with friends Hirsi and Geedi, embark on a courageous journey to the city to find her. The film explores the strength of family bonds, solidarity in adversity and the resilience of children in challenging social contexts. Through authentic storytelling, natural performances and a strong visual style, the film aims to immerse audiences in a world not often seen on screen. Barni looks at daily life and the struggles faced by Somali communities. Its power lies in transforming a tragic disappearance into a celebration of courage, loyalty and humanity.
PRIMAVERA
Director: Damiano Michieletto
Primavera is a haunting story set in a vividly recreated Venice, a tale of art and music, opportunity and repression. Damiano Michieletto’s drama transports us to the Ospedale della Pietà in the early 1700s, an orphanage where musically gifted girls perform new works as part of a lucrative orchestra. When Antonio Vivaldi is hired, he identifies Cecilia’s clear talent and makes her first violin, but her fate has been long-since foretold. Tecla Insolia plays Cecilia with a tenderness that cuts through time — her predicament reverberating across the ages. While not completely factual, Vivaldi did teach at the Ospedale for 40 years, and the film is based on a literary novel whose core truth resonates here.