Director Amjad Al Rasheed’s first film, “Inshallah A Boy,” a highlight of the film festival circuit and Jordan’s official Oscar submission this year, highlights the patriarchal formula that favors men over Array.
Currently showing in cinemas in the United Arab Emirates, this moving story follows a young widow, played by Palestinian actress Mouna Hawa of the famous film “Fauda”, who pretends to be pregnant with a child to escape inheritance legislation unfavorable to her. the women in Jordan.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Amjad says the film comes from a deep place.
“The concept for this film came about through a woman close to me. She found herself in a similar situation to my main character, Nawal. My close friend committed her life to her family and her daughter, but when her spouse passed away, her circle of relatives sought to claim a percentage of the inheritance,” Al Rasheed said, sparking a wider debate over the precarious rights of widows in Jordan.
“We wondered if it was possible for a woman in our society to defy certain laws or what her characteristics might be. All those questions fueled the concept behind Inshallah A Boy,” he added.
The movie, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Critics Week and scooped over 30 awards in various film festivals, revolves around a Jordanian housewife who might lose her home and daughter after her husband dies, due to local laws and customs that deny inheritance rights to women. He believes his film connected because it touched upon some universal themes such as resilience in the face of injustice, the struggle for equality, and the love of a mother willing to go to great lengths to protect her child.
“It’s a human story that follows a character and their struggles. It wasn’t my goal to make a film aimed at women. I wanted to tell a social story because this struggle is not just about women. . . Perhaps my mystery can make many other people think about certain laws that need to be reevaluated and how they affect our daily lives.
The film plays out like a breathless thriller, considering the superlative festival reviews.
Al Rasheed, who had just won the audience award at the just-concluded Amman Film Festival at the time of this interview, believes his resolve to create a gripping mystery on a dark subject matter worked. His goal was simple: make a film where the characters and struggles were identifiable.
“For me as a filmmaker, it’s a wonderful moment to win the Audience Award at the Amman International Film Festival, as the film returns to the Arab world for the first time. This film made especially for Arab audiences. . . That’s why I’m very excited to enjoy a theatrical release in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and soon in Tunisia. Our adventure began with the Cannes Critics’ Week, and this crazy adventure reached a point where I got the approval of the Jordanian public.
This celebrated director also decided to show women with ardent gentleness and not as victims of their environment. He sought to make his film an example of “social realism”.
“Jordanian women, according to my research, are all strong and combative. . . They occasionally use artistic tactics to run society and even if they are wronged. . . That’s why I refused to show Nawal in a position of weakness where she abandons herself. domination. The women in my film know how to fight for their rights. He did not need to turn his disorders into a melodramatic work.
True to his word, Nawal, accurately played by Palestinian actress Fauda Hawa, is the portrait of a brave man who becomes a widow and faces the problem of wasting his house and daughter because he “doesn’t have a son”.
“The character has long struggled with inequality, but this film proves that he knows how to triumph over his deceptions. ” He dedicated six years of his life to writing and financing this exciting project. According to him, financing a film is complicated, but not as complicated as locating a forged script.
“The budget is important, but it may not be useful if the writing is not very complete and the characters are not strong. A smart movie is a mix of financing and smart writing. . . In addition, I have sought to tell a story that is close to my center and that reflects the problems I need to address. My cinema will have to be a reflection of me. “
‘Inhallah A Boy’ is now in cinemas in the United Arab Emirates