المستعمرة

Followed by a discussion with Mohamed Rashad, moderated by Iskandar Abdalla

Following the sudden death of his father in a factory accident in Alexandria, 23-year-old Hossam takes over his job as a form of compensation and as his family’s only means of survival. Pressured by his younger brother Maro and their chronically ill mother, Hossam brings the boy with him. Inside the factory, the atmosphere is uneasy. While the workers speak fondly of their late colleague, they keep their distance from his sons. As Hossam struggles to hold things together for his family and for himself, he begins to sense that there is more to his father’s death than anyone will say. The silence around it grows heavier, harder to ignore. And as much as he wants to hold on to the fragile sense of stability that begins to emerge, another unexpected tragedy threatens to unravel everything. (Dalia Soliman)

Mohamed Rashad is a filmmaker, writer and producer from Egypt.

Iskandar Abdalla is a researcher, curator, and educator. He is artistic director of the Arab Film Festival Berlin (ALFILM).