WHALE BELLY (18)

Director’s statement

Whale Belly is my first feature film. 17-year-old Rim lives with her father, her world does not extend much beyond the apartment door. Confined by social expectations, she faces a dilemma: should she wait for a miracle or go out and create one herself? I have always been interested in intergenerational conflict, tackling it more explicitly in this film. The younger generation is underrepresented in Egyptian film and primarily expected to consume low-quality comedies and romances. I want to break such stereotypes and take young people seriously. The film follows a rhythm of fear and hope. Emotions are built up slowly and intensified through a camera that rarely moves, remaining close to the characters and their internal struggles. I will cast non-professional actors and shoot at decaying, stagnant locations which reflect the world of the protagonist, who, in a single night, challenges social norms, patriarchy, prejudice, and harassment to save her father’s life.