A young Saudi woman studying abroad returns to Jeddah, where she learns that her family has been shielding her from difficult truths.A young Saudi woman studying abroad returns to Jeddah, where she learns that her family has been shielding her from difficult truths.A young Saudi woman studying abroad returns to Jeddah, where she learns that her family has been shielding her from difficult truths.
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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.
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.
Honestly , Amateur work.
The author of the story did not bother with any construction to the story narrative , so eventually you will get lost in every scene that you will never connect with the other , moreover there was no specific narrative construction for every character .. so good luck if you could understand this mess .
The first scene: The night party which ended suddenly finding themselves in a sheep barn!!!! What does that mean?
Scene Two: a construction site with Random bulldozers chosen to be the site of a romantic conversation. Then morning comes , and the workers begin working around them with their presence raising no questions!! What does that mean?
The third scene: It is the worst of all, when a woman spoke to her in the hospital in the most random way , with a meaningless conversation! Basma ask her: Is the juice machine working? " the random lady " answers her that some things cannot be fixed! Basma then ask her if there is any hope to repair the machine? She answers, "My name is Amal " hope in Arabic ". Do you think there is Amal?" What the hell is this nonsense?
When I got to the middle of the film, I wondered: Who is the producer who has the courage to produce nonsense like this? But I understood when I saw that the producer is the same as the author, writer, and the leading actress...complete nonsense.
The author of the story did not bother with any construction to the story narrative , so eventually you will get lost in every scene that you will never connect with the other , moreover there was no specific narrative construction for every character .. so good luck if you could understand this mess .
The first scene: The night party which ended suddenly finding themselves in a sheep barn!!!! What does that mean?
Scene Two: a construction site with Random bulldozers chosen to be the site of a romantic conversation. Then morning comes , and the workers begin working around them with their presence raising no questions!! What does that mean?
The third scene: It is the worst of all, when a woman spoke to her in the hospital in the most random way , with a meaningless conversation! Basma ask her: Is the juice machine working? " the random lady " answers her that some things cannot be fixed! Basma then ask her if there is any hope to repair the machine? She answers, "My name is Amal " hope in Arabic ". Do you think there is Amal?" What the hell is this nonsense?
When I got to the middle of the film, I wondered: Who is the producer who has the courage to produce nonsense like this? But I understood when I saw that the producer is the same as the author, writer, and the leading actress...complete nonsense.
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.
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.
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 :)
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 :)
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 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.
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- 1h 45m(105 min)
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