Souad (12A)
Directed by Ayten Amin 
⭑⭑⭑⭑

THIS powerful, female-driven drama from up-and-coming Egyptian filmmaker Ayten Amin provides a unique and fascinating insight into the lives of teenage girls in Egypt. 

Shot like a verite-style documentary with non-professional actors, it paints a gripping picture of Generation Z in the Middle East and the compelling influence of social media.

The film centres on 19-year-old Souad (Bassad Ahmed) and her younger sister Rabab (Basmala Elghaiesh) who live in Zagazig, a small city on Egypt’s Nile Delta. 

Souad lives a double life: when she is with her family and out in public she appears ultra conservative and wears a hijab, but when she isn’t she is very active on social media. She is obsessed with her online image and is also addicted to her phone; she conducts secret virtual relationships with men and lies about her life. However, when the real world and the digital one collide it results in shocking consequences when Rabab seeks out Souad’s online boyfriend and influencer Ahmed (Hussein Ghanem) in her search for answers about her sister.

Amin obtains the most natural and impressive performances from her non-professional cast, who are all captivating to watch and convey the dichotomy of being a Muslim teenage girl today.

Behind closed doors Souad and her friends are normal teens being raucous and irreverent. Ditching their veils, smoking non-stop and singing and dancing. Their only means of escape is social media as they discuss how they are all expected to go to university to find a suitable husband, preferably a doctor. 

Meanwhile at home they are forced to wash and clean their houses and wait on their fathers hand and foot. Even when hanging out the washing, Souad has to wear her hijab. 

This is a frank, brave and enlightening portrayal of how young women are trying to assert their identities and achieve their dreams within a conservative and patriarchal society today. 

Maria Duarte 

In cinemas