Al Baraneya

A beautifully realised debut feature from Dutch-Egyptian director Ashgan El-Hamus, Al Baraneya adds one professional actor to a cast of non-professionals for a warm and organic family drama about tradition and modernity.

Pregnant Amal lives together with her family in Al Baraneya, a village outside Cairo, surrounded by jasmine fields. When Amal’s cousin Rania visits from Cairo, she captivates Amal and her younger sisters with her modern lifestyle, making them question their future.

“This is the kind of film that seems small only at first glance, building in impact as it plays out, lingering long after the close with images and sounds of the laughter that comes from togetherness.” — Jay Weissberg, Variety