Amjad Al Rasheed puts the patriarchy on trial in Jordan in a dazzling film

Director Amjad Al Rasheed signs with “Inshallah un fils” a first film of rage and hope, of the fight of a woman in a man’s world and of indignation at an unjust system. Upsetting.

Nawal’s world collapsed literally overnight. One morning, she discovers her husband dead in his sleep. From then on, his daily life turns into a nightmare. A nagging, repetitive daily life, to the point of revolt. She takes her daughter to school, then runs to the home of a wealthy family to take care of the disabled grandmother, comes home late to have dinner with her daughter, often a sandwich, and put her to bed.

And between the two houses, a distressing public space. Nawal suffers harassment, even at her home. Every day. For what ? Nawal is a single woman and has one daughter. And in Jordanian legislation, she is entitled to nothing, or almost nothing.

“We allow you to live at home”

Inshallah a son is the abysmal descent into hell of a mother, of a woman, in a patriarchal society. Laws are made by men for men. As she is a widow and the mother of a girl and not a boy, her husband’s meager estate must be shared with her in-laws.

The young Jordanian director Amjad Al Rasheed was inspired by the story of a close relative to bring to the screen the struggle of an entire generation. “When her husband died, according to current inheritance laws, his property should have been distributed among the deceased’s closest relatives, as the couple had only daughters. However, her husband’s brothers and sisters gave up their share so that the widow and her daughters could keep their house, telling her: ‘We will allow you to live at home.’ They behaved exceptionally towards him, probably because they were financially comfortable. The phrase “We allow you” caught my attention. What would have happened otherwise? What would she have done if they had demanded a share of her house, as the law provides?”he confides.

Nawal is under pressure from all sides. She risks losing her home and custody of her daughter. Her brother-in-law wants her husband’s pickup and half of the apartment back. Haithan Omari perfectly embodies the contradictions of his character, Rufqi, who sees the death of his brother as a way to improve his precarious family situation. For him, it is his right to claim this money, because he has the law and morality on his side.

The director shows very well the instrumentalization of religion for personal ends. Nawal, masterfully played by a combative Mouna Hawa, both fragile and determined, moves in a world of men. She fights with her own means, without waiting for help that would never come. She also fights so that her daughter does not suffer the same ordeal. The scene in which she finally dares to react to a man who harasses her daily in the street with always the same sentence – “I wish I was your bag” – is liberating.

Inshallah a son is a first film of rage and hope, Amjad Al Rasheed a gifted director and Mouna Hawa a dazzling actress.

The sheet

Director: Amjad Al Rasheed

LANGUAGES : Arabic subtitled in French

Scenario : Amjad Al Rasheed and Rula Nasser

Distribution : Mouna Hawa, Seleena Rababah, Haitham Omari

Duration : 1h53

Theatrical release: March 6, 2024

Synopsis: Jordan today. After the sudden death of her husband, Nawal, 30, must fight for her share of the inheritance in order to save her daughter and her house, in a society where having a son would be a game-changer.