The Burdened

A family is tested when the mother becomes pregnant with a child they cannot afford. This rare drama from Yemen is a realistic portrait of a family's struggle for survival in a war-torn country.

Ahmed and Isra, parents of three children, face a difficult choice when they discover Isra is pregnant with a fourth child. Limited finances and a lack of employment mean they don’t have the means to raise another child. Thus, their struggle begins against societal prejudices and acceptance of their choice.

Through a calm style and natural light, the film captures the essence of the city of Aden and gives us the feeling of observing the couple's everyday life up close. The calm camera movements underscore the sense of unrest and highlight the characters’ mental strain. These authentic narrative techniques make you feel and experience every moment and emotion of this personal journey.

«The film is a rigorously controlled, moving evocation of a family exhausted by the difficulties of keeping it all together.»
– Jay Weissberg, The Film Verdict –

Christina Svien

Pub Talks: Who are the Houthis, really?

Are you wondering who the Houthis in Yemen really are? Learn more at our Pub Talks. We ensure academic enrichment – and the opportunity to buy something good at the bar – before the screening of THE BURDENED on Saturday, April 13. The event starts at 19.45, and you do not need a ticket for the film to attend the event.

Les mer om arrangementet her.

Director

Amr Gamal is a theater and film director from Aden, Yemen. In 2018, he made his debut feature, 10 Days Before the Wedding, which received a positive reception. The Burdened made history as the first film from Yemen to be screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. It was also selected as Yemen’s submission for the Oscars in 2023.

This film is part of