Sand Storm (2016)

When their entire lives shatter, two Bedouin women struggle to change the unchangeable rules, each in her own individual way.

Director:

Elite Zexer

Writer:

Elite Zexer (screenplay)

Stars:

Lamis Ammar, Ruba Blal, Hitham Omari

15 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Lamis Ammar	...	Layla
Ruba Blal	...	Jalila (as Ruba Blal-Asfour)
Hitham Omari	...	Suliman (as Haitham Omari)
Khadija Al Akel	...	Tasnim (as Khadija Alakel)
Jalal Masarwa	...	Anwar
Elham Araf	...	(as Elham Arraf)
Shaden Kanboura	...	Alakel
May Azliah
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Omar El Nasasreh	...	Munir

Storyline

Desert noon in a Bedouin village in Southern Israel. Jalila is hosting an awkward celebration - the marriage of her husband to a second, much younger wife - while trying to conceal the insult that boils inside her. Her daughter Layla is preoccupied with a different matter. Her secret, strictly forbidden, love affair with Anuar was just unveiled by her mother. Jalila believes that the world is harsh and cruel, and the only way to win - is to keep your mouth shut, your head as high as possible without raising too much attention, and struggle from inside the limits of the traditional world surrounding you. Layla believes that there are no limits to the world surrounding her. Everything can be hers if she only wished hard enough. But, as the story unfolds, they each fail in her individual battle. Their whole family falls apart and everything they believe in shatters. Now, the two women are forced to understand that, if they wish to survive, they will have to start seeing the world from ...

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Plot Keywords:

israel | patriarchal society | israeli arab | bedouin | marriage | 

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Taglines:

Sacrificing your freedom for the benefit of the family.

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

First full-length feature for the director Elite Zexer.

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Soundtracks

Sud el Ayoon
Traditional song, with Music Arrangement by Mark Smulian
Vocal Arrangement by Root Verano
Performed by Root Verano
Courtesy of Ras Sinai Project

User Reviews

A tour de force of filmmaking, writing, acting.

Ever so subtly like a friend pulling your arm gently, this film pulls your into the world of women and how suffocating it is for them. Across nearly four generations. With the fourth one standing at the window of womanhood but not there yet. It will tell you how their voices are muted, how their choices are compromised, how emotions, feelings, their conscience, society, reputation are all used against them. The mother is the best actor I've seen in a Long time on screen. The amount of pain, frustration, anguish she conveys with so much subtlety is mind numbing. The Daughter was stellar too. Sumbolism and metaphor used time and again in the form of tunnels, windows, make up, weddings as a societal device. Gorgeous film. One of the best I've seen offlate. Kudos to the filmmaker, the crew and the actors. Phenomenal.

Details

Official Sites:

2-Team Productions [Israel]

Country:

Israel Germany France

Language:

Arabic

Release Date:

15 September 2016 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Sand Storm

Filming Locations:

Negev Desert, Israel

Box Office

Budget:

ILS3,850,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,849, 2 October 2016

Gross USA:

$86,800

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$414,698

Company Credits

Production Co:

2-Team Productions, Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, Israel Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1