WITHIN SAND
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.
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.
UNIDENTIFIED
Director: Haifaa Al Mansour
Noelle Al Saffan, a 29-year-old divorcee, returns to her small hometown for a fresh start. A fan of true crime podcasts, she gets a mundane clerical job at the local police station, digitizing old files. Her life changes when a teenage girl's body is found in her school uniform, with no ID. Haunted by the girl's senseless death, Noelle decides to investigate. She uses her insight into the hidden world of women to identify the victim, befriending a group of women and other characters that all seem connected to the crime. To solve the mystery, she must challenge her preconceived notions about women and their threats.