Nezouh

Should we stay or should we go – that is the conflict at the heart of the Syrian family drama Nezouh. 14-year-old Zeina lives with her parents in war-torn Damascus. Her father refuses to let go of the life they had, and insists on staying in their apartment even after a bomb blows a hole in their roof and wall. Her mother is adamant that staying there is too dangerous. While her parents fight, Zeina looks out of the hole in the wall and fantasizes – about the ocean, the sky, and freedom.

Nezouh is a heartfelt drama that delicately balances tragedy with touches of comedy, and a story of war where the war itself only serves as a backdrop. The film’s focus is on everyday life that continues in spite of the terrible conditions. The ruined apartment and the family’s strong attachment to it have a powerful symbolic function, as does the hole in the wall. For Zeina, it represents a window to the world and a different life waiting beyond the horizon.