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Olayan

Qumra Projects

Khalifa Al Marri / Short Narrative / Qatar / 2020
In Arabic
Interests: Coming of age
Rated: Mature subject matter. Not suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 18 are not admitted into cinemas.

Synopsis

Hamad is a 6-year-old boy who lives with his parents and their camels in the desert. When one of their camels gives birth to a baby calf, Hamad’s reclusive life changes and the two become fast friends. When his father decides to sell the calf in the market, Hamad goes to extreme lengths to free his friend and bring him back home.

Hamad is a 6-year-old boy who lives with his parents and their camels in the desert. He is constantly reminded by his father that he’s not a man and that he needs to be one. When a camel gives birth to a baby camel calf, Hamad’s life changes and his loneliness goes away. Needing the money, his father decides to sell the calf in the market. Hamad goes to extreme lengths to free his friend and bring the calf back home. At the camel market, Hamad releases the calf and runs away with it. Returning home on foot, Hamad later catches a lift from a stranger who tries to steal the calf. The pair get chased in a palm tree farm, but narrowly escape. In the morning, after walking in different directions, he realizes that he’s lost. His last hope is in his father’s words, “Camels always find their way back home.” At first, it looks like everything is lost, but the calf starts grunting and trotting up the hill and finds the way back home. Hamad confronts his father after he tries to return the calf to the market. Hamad’s father gives up and returns the calf to Hamad, claiming that he will never be a man. Hamad decides to prove him wrong by slaughtering the calf.

About the Director

Khalifa AlMarri is a visual artist who has made several contributions to the fine art community in Qatar. He is the director of ‘Man of the House’, which won a ‘Made in Qatar’ Award at Ajyal in 2015. AlMarri studied Mass Communications at Qatar University and holds a diploma in Directing and Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. He made ‘Fragile’ as part of a joint Doha Film Institute – La Fémis summer course in Paris in 2016. ‘Embodiment’ was one of his abstract documentaries that played very well in festivals worldwide. His documentary film ‘Voyager’ is now travelling the world, screening in several festivals and exhibitions. He just finished shooting his latest narrative short film ‘Olayan’ that was part of the QFF by the DFI. Currently, he’s shooting a web series with the Ministry of Defense about the national service.

Credits

Director

Khalifa Al Marri

Screenwriter

Khalifa Al Marri

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