Basma

First time I see such a discrepancy between what I saw and the imdb rating of 4.4

For me a 6 or even 6.5.

Basma is a story about the difficult relation between daughter Basma who returns from her studies in Los Angeles, her father who has left the family and now lives alone and the rest of the family. She too has to learn that things are never black and white as we are used to see them. Good script, good acting, a glance at the life in a mostly unknown country make a nice movie albeit just a little slow in developing the story but I am not sure if faster would be better in this case. Would see again with pleasure after one or two years.

For an Arab movie reflecting the society we live in and the typical traditional mindset, this film is remarkably well-produced. The storyline dives deep into the emotional and psychological complexities surrounding the struggle of accepting mental illness-or any form of abnormality-in a conservative social context. It shines a light on how stigmas around mental health are still deeply rooted in many Arab households, where silence and denial are often preferred over seeking help or showing vulnerability. The film portrays this struggle through powerful characters who, despite their internal battles, are often met with judgment, fear, or misunderstanding from those closest to them.

One of the film's strongest points is how honestly it depicts this tension without exaggeration or melodrama. Instead, it stays grounded in reality, showing the small moments of isolation, shame, and resistance that many people with mental health issues or neurological differences endure. It also brings attention to the role of family reputation and societal pressure in shaping personal decisions-another familiar theme in Arab culture. Characters are often torn between preserving social image and supporting loved ones in need, a painful dilemma that resonates with many viewers.

The direction, cinematography, and pacing further enhance the emotional impact. Scenes are composed thoughtfully, often using silence, facial expressions, or symbolic elements to say more than words could. The dialogue feels natural and real, contributing to a sense of authenticity that pulls you into the characters' world. You can't help but feel empathy-even frustration-because what you see on screen mirrors what you've seen or experienced in your own surroundings.

What makes this movie stand out is not just its production value, but its courage. It dares to talk about things that are usually brushed under the rug in our communities. It holds up a mirror to our collective mindset and forces us to ask tough questions: Why do we avoid what we don't understand? Why is seeking help seen as a weakness? This film doesn't offer all the answers, but it starts an important conversation-one that's long overdue.

In short, it really reflects reality.

Yes it has cliches and the phd pitch didn't make full sense,, but what exactly are you comparing it too? Because compared to other middle eastern productions this is definitely a showpiece!

Living in the middle east, I particularly enjoy the concept and the message it conveys because we still have people who don't believe in mental illnesses.

You need to understand the difficult job the producers had to balance out between what an Arab audience wants and what international audiences wants

I'm happy to see saudi actors doing their thing and I honestly don't see anything massively wrong with the acting,, like it wasn't distracting to me or anything

all in all, it was a pleasant watch and I was definitely hooked.

I have no words to describe this , I don't even call it a movie .. obviously the actors are not professional actors and the story is written poorly .

It seems that the actress Fatma , produced & wrote & directed even acted as the main character just for an opportunity to look pretty with a charisma

The father character is poorly talented , we didn't understand what's his mental illness and what caused it . The funny thing was the mother left him and divorced him because he is a danger and threat to there lives , yet she got back with him for no reason & Without context in the movie

with that said , it's rubbish .

So this is not a real work or any sort of art .. it's a waste of time for viewers.

I loved this movie, the acting and directing is top notch. The movie have a very deep story and a strong message. I don't mind watching this movie a million times!!

Fatima Albanawi movies are always great, in my opinion she is a natural in acting. It's also nice to see rising stars like Eisa Hafiz. They both have bright futures in the show business industry.

Of course all of Fatima's movies are amazing but other movies that I watched recently for the star Fatima and I highly recommend are Barakah Meets Barakah that was one of her first master pieces. As well as the thriller and action movie Route 10.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)