Sand Storm

Sand Storm may not be a masterpiece of world cinema. Perhaps more distinctive art films claim their place on that stage. This movie takes a naturalistic approach to its story, depicting development in a straightforward way without auteur splashes. It offers a big dose of realism about a tough subject and tough circumstances. Perhaps that doesn't appeal to a more casual audience.

But this is absolutely a perfect movie. How is it perfect? First of all, every moment, every scene, every line of dialogue propels the story forward in a meaningful, forceful, convincing, and deeply human way. Deeply human? Yes. The characters are thoroughly human and complex, fully imagined and developed, both in the writing and the excellent performances. The story itself is constructed in a highly economical, brilliant way. For example, the reversal in dynamism between 'stern mother' and 'indulgent father' is not only interesting in terms of development; those shifts are utterly convincing as they arise organically from dynamics internal to the story and to the (highly difficult) circumstances each character finds her or himself in. It's impressive to witness the artistry of these shifts, how well though out, convincing, and how inspired it all is. The major characters are all in deep conflict with each other, and enough is given to us to understand and sympathize with each of their positions. That's uncommon in stories, in any story, whether novels or movies. This is an admirable achievement.

The climactic moment, the moment of momentous decision for the daughter Layla, this is fantastic: she drives the family truck as her means of breaking away from her father's demands, but it is precisely in driving this truck where we first saw how her father fostered her independence and self-sufficiency in ways unseemly for a young woman in their village society. The 'vehicle' by which he helped give her independence of spirit is the very vehicle by which she flees his (or his society's) oppression. Wow.

While it's not showy, it's a deeply inspired film, full of artistry and moving, human meaning.

Perhaps I have to reevaluate my ingrained trust with 7 stars rating as a metric of quality, with this at 6.8 I didn't expect so high. I anticipated it to be a stereotypical, politically charged Arab's crude conservatism imagery that detach, delineate you to side clearly off the black and white character (as in social value metric not typical good and bad). Unexpectedly, it unpacks humanely with a blend of conflicting contradiction in the character far from being one dimensional, inhibited by consequence we have no clear insight about but hinted. Someone or thing is either way at stake. The father fosters a certain privilege to his daughter but hypocrite through indirect treatment to his first wife, yet you still pity him for whatever it is that inhibit him. Her mom, uptight and resentful turns out protecting her for an option her daughter deserves, more so than the more liberal father.

Halfway through I found it well put and anticipated a disappointing turn that justifies the below 7 rating. There was none. The ending is not as justly suited to what her strong personality suggested to be, by (spoiler) having her bent to tradition eventually (but well, this is real life). She remained guarded unmannerly at the end. The new husband's hint of submissive reaction draws him less of a typical antagonist. Made you think that fairness aside, it has yet been proven to be dramatically a whole lot of wrong turn, just like real life: some options might be not entirely bad but not wanting it in the first place compromised some degree of unsatisfactory or happiness.

Ever so subtly like a friend pulling your arm gently, this film pulls your into the world of women and how suffocating it is for them. Across nearly four generations. With the fourth one standing at the window of womanhood but not there yet. It will tell you how their voices are muted, how their choices are compromised, how emotions, feelings, their conscience, society, reputation are all used against them. The mother is the best actor I've seen in a Long time on screen. The amount of pain, frustration, anguish she conveys with so much subtlety is mind numbing. The Daughter was stellar too. Sumbolism and metaphor used time and again in the form of tunnels, windows, make up, weddings as a societal device. Gorgeous film. One of the best I've seen offlate. Kudos to the filmmaker, the crew and the actors. Phenomenal.

Amazing film. Moving. The mother-daughter relationship was profound.

The film follows the struggle of a young Bedouin girl and her will to be free of old traditions that try to keep her caged in a man's world. The main plot follows Jalila (Ruba Blal-Asfour), the first wife of a man that is trapped under the pressure of having a new young wife join the clan. Her daughter, Layla (Lamis Ammar), has a secret lover at school, and Jalila must decide if she is part of the mechanism that will trap her daughter too or going to fight for the next generation to have more than she could ever dream of. The brave directing and storytelling brings to the screen a complex story, exhibiting female struggles from a very specific perspective yet in a very universal way. It is not by chance that the film has had such a successful festival circuit.