HIJRA
HIJRA
Thoughtful road movie about female perspectives on freedom and identity
Sarah and Janna travel with their grandmother to Mecca for the Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. When teenage Sarah suddenly disappears during a stopover, the strict grandmother decides not to tell the father immediately. Instead, she sets out alone with twelve-year-old Janna to search for her older granddaughter. By chance, the two meet Ahmed, who becomes their driver and companion. Their journey takes them through the Saudi desert heading north. With breathtaking images of the rugged landscape, the film shows different perspectives on a society that imposes strict rules on women, and lets its protagonists navigate between acceptance, resistance, and escape in their search for freedom. (NW)
EG/IQ/SA/GB 2025. D+SC: Shahad Ameen. 114 min. Feature film. Original version with English subtitles. Suitable from age 12. Recommended from age 14.
Cinema Tickets for Individuals
SAT, 26 Sept. | 10.30 a.m. | Cinéma
TUE, 29 Sept. | 8.45 a.m. | Cinema of DFF
Shahad Ameen
Biography
In her films, Shahad Ameen tells stories of identity and culture in her home country of Saudi Arabia. Her latest film explores the meaning of freedom through the journey of three women: “HIJRA is my love letter to the women who carry history silently within them, to the landscapes that shape us, and to the idea that redemption can be found in the places you least expect.”
Filmography (Selection)
2019 SCALES
2013 EYE AND MERMAID (short film)
2011 LEILA’S WINDOW (short film)
Production Companies
Bite Ameen, Iraqi Independent Film Center (IIFC), Ideation Studios
