Amjad Abu Alala | Sudan | 2019 | 102m | Arabic with English Subtitles
Friday, Feb 5 to Thursday, Feb 18
Winner of the Lion of the Future Award for best Debut Feature at the Venice Film Festival, You Will Die At Twenty is a visually sumptuous “coming-of-death” fable. During her son’s naming ceremony, a Sheikh predicts that Sakina’s child will die at the age of 20. Haunted by this prophecy, Sakina becomes overly protective of her son Muzamil, who grows up knowing about his fate. As Muzamil escapes Sakina’s ever-watchful eye, he encounters friends, ideas and challenges that make him question his destiny. Sudan’s first Oscar submission, You Will Die At Twenty is an auspicious debut and a moving meditation on what it means to live in the present.
"A vibrant and transfixing revelation, 'You Will Die at 20' is as novel a vision as we may see this year. From its meaningful ideas on the here and the hereafter, its lesson for Muzamil is that after perishing a rebirth may follow." -Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times
"Abu Alala's ardent attention to daily details, rooted in political and cultural history, offers a powerful symbolic vision of the tormented and violent legacy of dogmatism and dictatorship." -Richard Brody, New Yorker
"A complex, stunning and sophisticated debut feature from Amjad Abu Alala and a major achievement for Sudanese cinema. A confident debut that already feels like an accomplishment." -Mina Takla, AwardsWatch
Luigi De Laurentiis Award - Venice Film Festival
Grand Prix du Jury - Amiens International Film Festival
Best Director - Malmö Arab Film Festival
Golden Star - El Gouna Film Festival
Cost $10
Watching here supports Film Movement and Carbon Arc.