Ever since Paradise Now and Freezone, I have been a big fan of Hiam Abbass. I have yet to see a number of excellent performances by her in movies like The Syrian Bride and Le Pain. This one however seems tailor-made for her. It's a rather simple story but one that makes a very strong impact on the aspect of the importance of health.
Issues such as women's health and child upbringing are rarely, very rarely treated with care in the industry. I guess this little known film was first screened as part of some health week or somethin. Because that's what it does: educate.
A 45 year old rapidly ageing mother, Nadia (Abbass) suddenly finds herself caught in the throes of midlife crisis. Menopause causes her to slowly let go of her former youthful appearance. A heavy, careless diet inspite of the doctor's warnings and refusal to let anything take away her youthfulness make her go mad as she desperately clings on to her old short, tight dresses which no longer fit her and her husband who tries to be as helpful as possible. As if this wasn't enough, her daughter, Sarra is slowly coming out of the warps of adolescence as a beautiful, young, attractive woman. This makes her mother, Nadia somewhat jealous. She constantly pries into her personal life, behaves badly towards her boyfriends, watches pornography, and continues to wear near-splitting clothes. Though all this might sound funny here, it's exactly the opposite while watching the movie.
The father too gets sick of Nadia's spitelful behaviour and since he does not know what really is the problem with her (she never tells anyone), he considers himself a bad husband. Nadia too sees all her husband's trips to parties, his behaviour towards women in general, his female colleagues, his phonecalls, even their own relatives with strong suspicion. Depression reigns supreme in the once happy household until Sarra takes things into her hands and becomes the adult in the house.
Although very depressing and educative, this movie was pretty monotonous. But undoubtedly, this is Abbass's best performance.
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