- Language
- Arabic · English subtitles
- Countries
- The Netherlands / Palestine
- Form
- Documentary, black & white
- Year
- 2025
- Production
- Nawl Productions
Synopsis
A Palestinian mother-to-be in the Netherlands grapples with the emotional and physical upheavals of pregnancy — pain, uncertainty, fear of bodily change, and an identity crisis — while challenging societal norms around motherhood.
Torn between her personal struggles and the devastation in Gaza, she feels guilt and shame, questioning her right to feel pain while others endure unimaginable suffering.
Festivals & Awards
- Best Documentary
- Galway Film Fleadh
- Best Documentary
- IFF Integrazione
- Audience Award
- IFF Integrazione
- Selected
- CPH:DOX
Director's Statement
“I cried often, but felt ashamed of my tears.”
I discovered I was pregnant in September 2023. It was a planned pregnancy, and I was happy and excited about this new journey; however, that joy was overshadowed by pain and questions.
I kept my deeper feelings, fears and identity crisis to myself. How was I going to have a baby in a foreign country, far from my culture and my mother tongue? Those doubts weighed heavily on me, especially when the war in Gaza began. I felt ashamed to mention my discomfort when people in Gaza were — and still are — enduring unimaginable hardship.
This film is born from those intense and conflicting emotions. It explores the complex realities of pregnancy and motherhood against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, while questioning the legitimacy of my own feelings. I truly hope to honour the resilience and strength of women navigating these profound experiences.
Sabrine Khoury
Credits
- Screenwriter, Director, Editor & ProducerSabrine Khoury
- CastSabrine Khoury
- CameramanRashed Rashed
- Sound DesignSami Merib
- MusicMaen El Ghoul
- Production CompanyNawl Productions
