Thank You For Banking With Us Film Review Dir/Scr: Laila Abbas. Palestine/Germany/Saudi Arabia/Qatar/Egypt. 2024. 97mins There's little love lost betw
Thank You For Banking With Us
Film Review
Dir/Scr: Laila Abbas. Palestine/Germany/Saudi Arabia/Qatar/Egypt. 2024. 97mins
There’s little love lost between Palestinian sisters Mariam (Clara Khoury), a frazzled mum of two, and Noura (Yasmine Al Massri), single and, as a beauty technician, regarded as the family disappointment. But one thing they agree on is that when their elderly father dies, leaving a considerable amount of cash in a savings account, the money should go to the daughters who cared for him – rather than the absentee brother who moved to America. Society’s patriarchal structures make this tricky to achieve, however. Over an eventful night in Ramallah, life starts to unravel but the women rediscover a sisterly bond. This perceptive first feature from Laila Abbas is a reminder that not all stories from Palestine are tales of conflict, and that sometimes just simply being a woman is its own battle.
Film Review
The film world premieres in the main competition of the London Film Festival, kicking off a festival run that will subsequently take in Sao Paulo, Thessaloniki and AFI. Current interest in stories from the region should ensure that this intimate and at times dryly funny picture, which was filmed in Ramallah and Al-Bīrah in the West Bank, should capture the attention of programmers at further festivals going forward.
It’s certainly a persuasive calling card for Abbas, whose previous work includes Ice & Dust (2014), a mid-length documentary drama about a young Palestinian woman’s journey to a new life in Canada. While Thank You… is by no means the first film to explore the plight of women stifled by Islamic inheritance laws, Abbas’ taut picture is notable for its vividly evoked sense of place – the nighttime streets of Ramallah are empty and still, but there’s a perpetual sense of threat lurking just around the next corner – and for the two satisfyingly fleshed out central performances.
Storyline
The film follows Mariam, who is struggling to cope with her family life, and Noura, who has been caring for their elderly father. When their father dies, the sisters discover that they are in a difficult situation, as their brother, who has moved to America, is also a beneficiary of the inheritance. The sisters decide to take matters into their own hands and try to cash in their father’s savings account, despite the many obstacles they face.
Cast and Crew
- Production companies: August Films, In Good Company Films
- International sales: MAD Solutions, info@mad-solutions.com
- Producers: Hanna Atallah, Ronza Kamel, Roshanak Behesht Nedjad
- Cinematography: Konstantin Kröning
- Editing: Heba Othman
- Production design: Rami Arda
- Main cast: Clara Khoury, Yasmine Al Massri, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum, Adam Khattar
Conclusion
Thank You For Banking With Us is a gripping and thought-provoking film that explores the complexities of family relationships and the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society. With its taut script and memorable performances, this film is a must-see for anyone interested in storytelling and the struggles of women in the Middle East.
FAQs
- Q: What is the film’s genre?
A: Drama - Q: Who are the main characters in the film?
A: Mariam, Noura, and their family members - Q: Where was the film shot?
A: Ramallah and Al-Bīrah in the West Bank - Q: What are the themes of the film?
A: Family relationships, women’s struggles in a patriarchal society, and the challenges of inheritance laws in the Middle East.
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