Synopsis
Jordan, nowadays. After the death of her husband, Nawal, 30s, has to fight for what she thinks is her inheritance for her only daughter in a region where having a son is a game changer.
2023 ‘Inchallah un fils’ Directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed
Jordan, nowadays. After the death of her husband, Nawal, 30s, has to fight for what she thinks is her inheritance for her only daughter in a region where having a son is a game changer.
Rula Nasser Nicolas Leprêtre Aseel Abu Ayyash Raphaël Alexandre Shahinaz El-akkad Yousef Abdelnabi Maher Diab Alaa Karkouti
Inshallah Walad, 인샬라 어 보이, Jen ať je to chlapec, İnşallah Erkek Olur
this is not a film about how religion oppressed women. this is a film about how men use religion to oppressed women. from social, financial, parental, legal, physical, to medical matters.
for a feature debut and Jordan's debut at Cannes, the production quality is superb.
especially for a contemporary film which feature a lot of smartphone uses: ringing, calling, chatting on app, guessing password, and the anxiety of answering a call knowing they'll bring a topic you want to avoid. my favorite detail is when Nawal's phone still have the annoying "Finish Setting Up Your Phone" notification badge. absolutely realistic. a lot of Contemporary Hollywood movies that feature phone usage failed at this when they're…
For two-thirds of its runtime, this debut feature from Jordanian writer/director Amjad Al Rasheed plays out as a critique of how Sharia Law discriminates against women, before an unlikely contrivance (the Forum audience clapped and cheered nonetheless) shortly before the end, delivers up a happy ending. The screenplay, co-written with Delphine Agut and Rula Nasser, was apparently based on real-life events involving a friend of Al Rasheed’s, so my scepticism might just result from a stretching out of the timeline of the real-life story.
Narwhal (Mouna Hawa) discovers after her husband’s sudden death that, because she and her husband had only had a daughter, his family stands to inherit everything she thinks she owns, even the apartment she is living…
Women's struggle through domestic issue in patriarchy culture is boldly depicted by its relevant story and Hawa's charming performance.
#InshallahABoy is a huge triumph for Jordan, and hopefully inspires a whole new generation of local filmmakers to tell daring stories and challenge us to think.
Full review on into:screens
Inshallah a Boy has a lot of pressure on its shoulders. Being the first film from Jordan to play in the Official Selection at Cannes, as well as the feature debut from director Amjad Al Rasheed, this film carries an unfair burden to be the first depiction of the country - and it’s issues - most audiences will see.
That’s why it’s refreshing and a relief that Inshallah a Boy plays out as a lacerating Asghar Farhadi esque drama in which each scene extends the complications faced by Nawal (Mouna Hawa), in a gripping lead perfomance. While the film doesn’t differ too much from the European tastemaking that has made Iranian cinema into a goldmine for Western arthouse audiences - the film was partially financed by the CNC - Inshallah a Boy is anything but formulaic.
Like Pakistan’s Joyland, one can only hope this film will inspire a Jordanian New Wave.
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"It is a sin."
Amjad Al-Rasheed has crafted a complicated film. In some instances, you feel that Nawal (Mouna Hawa) wants to challenge the standards of the oppressive system in Jordan, but she is also a woman bound by her faith, and the rules of their society.
It makes for a compelling push and pull contrast as the film goes on. Your heart will ache for Nawal as she tries to navigate through her grief while being challenged by her husband’s brother Rifqi (Hitham Omari), who desperately wants to sell her car and her apartment to pay for his brother’s debts.
This is all compounded by two of her co-workers – one who has taken…
In the most complimentary way possible, this plays like an Asghar Farhadi b-side.