Badra waits and watches

Nahlah with some magic of her own

The ancient Middle Eastern desert is harsh, especially for Badra, who has taken up prostitution in order to pay for remedies to make her daughter speak again. When Badra, against her better judgement, takes in a foreign traveler and his companion, she begins to suspect that he is the powerful magician and healer she has been hearing about. But will the boundaries of custom and prejudice doom her daughter to silence?

Shot in widescreen on beautiful 35mm film by John Hall II, this tale evokes the ancient Middle East with beauty and simplicity. The film features strong performances by Sima Nekoui and Ike Aykut Ogut, as well as Rajeev Chhibber and the charming young Kaia Helland. Mud Puddle Films' frequent collaborator Ady Cohen, an Israeli currently living in Tel Aviv, was an especially apt composer for this project. Talented producers Sandra Tellado and Dominic De Lay have put together an ambitious and powerful film, also written and directed by De Lay.