Mariam
Ajyal Competition
Faiza Ambah / Short Narrative / France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia / 2014 / 44 min / Colour / DCP2K
In French / Arabic, English subtitles
Interests: Women, Drama, Religion, Social Issues, Dramedy, Youth, Immigration
Rated: Parental guidance advised for viewers under the age of 15. Individuals under the age of 15 are not admitted into cinemas unless accompanied by an individual aged 18 or over.
Synopsis
Ever since she attended the Hajj with her grandmother, Mariam has covered her head, but when France passes a law that bans Muslim women from wearing veils in public institutions, she finds her life in a Parisian suburb has suddenly become very complicated. Faced with expulsion and her father’s disapproval if she refuses to take off her headscarf to attend high school, but determined to stick to her guns, the resolute young woman finds solace in the power of protest.
About the Directors
Faiza Ambah is a Saudi filmmaker with a background in journalism. She was Gulf Correspondent for ‘The Washington Post’ before leaving in 2009 to focus on filmmaking. Her scripts have been supported by the Sundance Institute through the Rawi Screenwriter’s Lab in Jordan, the Dubai International Film Festival and the Doha Film Institute. She was a jury member at the Gulf Film Festival in Dubai in 2013 and organised a festival of Gulf Films at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, France the same year. She is currently in post-production for her medium-length film, ‘Mariam’, which was shot in France. Ambah has a feature-film writing certificate from UCLA extension and has taken directing courses at the Cinematic Arts School at the University of Southern California and the New York Film Academy.
Credits
- Director
- Faiza Ambah
- Screenwriter
- Faiza Ambah
- Producer
- Jérôme Bleitrach
- Editor
- Antoine Rodet
- Music
- Amine Bouhafa
- Cinematographer
- Tristan Tortuyaux
- Production Company
- Bizibi, Silvergrey, Faizalberry Films
- Cast
- Oulaya Amamra, Ahmed Hafiene, Fadila Belkebla, Lou Levy, Louka Masset