The Journey (Al Rihla)
Qumra Projects
Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji / Feature Narrative / Iraq, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Qatar / 2017 / Colour
In Arabic / English subtitles
Interests: Drama, Social Issues, War, Psychological, Women Issues
Rated: Mature subject matter. Not suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 18 are not admitted into cinemas.
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Synopsis
Baghdad, 30 December, 2006. Sara, an unassuming young woman, enters Baghdad’s central train station with sinister intentions. On the edge of committing a destructive and heinous act, Sara finds her plans are drastically altered, complicated by an unwanted and awkward encounter with Salam, a self-assured and flirtatious salesman. In an unfortunate twist of fate, Salam becomes a hostage in Sara’s confused and deluded master plan to blow up the station. Caught up in the chaos of a situation he cannot begin to comprehend, Salam desperately tries to understand Sara’s motives and to sway her decision. In a moment of reflection, Sara is given the opportunity to learn about the lives she has been so willing to destroy for others.
About the Director
Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji studied in Iraq and the Netherlands before travelling to the UK to complete his Masters degree in Cinematography and Directing at the Northern Film School in Leeds, where he won the prestigious Kodak Student Commercial Award for Cinematography. In 2003, he returned to Iraq to make his first feature film, ‘Ahlaam’, which screened at more than 125 international film festivals and received more than 30 awards, as well as Academy Award and Golden Globe consideration. His multi-award-winning ‘Son of Babylon’ (2010) screened at Sundance and the Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Amnesty Film Award and the Peace Prize. Al-Daradji was named ‘Variety’ magazine’s Middle Eastern Filmmaker of the Year after his documentary ‘In My Mother’s Arms’ (2010) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won the Asia-Pacific Screen Academy Award for Best Documentary. ‘In the Sands of Babylon’ (2013) screened at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Arab Film.
Credits
- Director
- Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji
- Screenwriter
- Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji, Isabelle Stead
- Producer
- Mohamed Jabarah Al Daradji, Isabelle Stead
- Sales Company
- Picture Tree International
- Cast
- Sara - Zahraa Ghandour Lebanese/ Iraqi (TV presenter Al Sumaria TV) Salam - Ameer Jabarah - Iraqi ('Salim' In The Sands of Babylon')