The Burdened

The Burdened (Arabic: المرهقون) is a 2023 Yemeni drama film based on a true story. It is the second film directed by the Yemeni filmmaker Amr Gamal who co-wrote the script with Mazen Reaat.

The Burdened
المرهقون
Directed byAmr Gamal
Written byAmr Gamal
Mazen Refaat
Produced byMohsen Alkhalifi
Amr Gamal
Amjad Abu Alala
CinematographyMrinal Desai
Edited byHeba Othman
Music byChen Ming-chang
Production
company
Adenium Productions
Distributed byFilms Boutiques (International)
MAD solutions (Middle East)
Release date
  • 18 February 2023 (2023-02-18) (Berlin)
Running time
91 minutes
CountriesYemen
Sudan
Saudi Arabia
LanguageArabic

The film premiered in the Panorama section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival,[1][2] winning the Audience Award (second place) and the Amnesty Award.[3]

With this participation, it became the first Yemeni film ever to be officially selected for screening at the Berlinale.[4]

It received widespread critical acclaim, and then it was screened at a number of international film festivals[5] such as the Sydney International Film Festival,[6] Shanghai International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival,[7] Valencia International Film Festival,[8] Taipei International Film Festival,[9] and Durban International Film Festival.[10]

The film was selected for Yemen's official submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.[11]

Plot

The movie depicts the real story of a young Yemeni couple,[12] Ahmed and Isra'a, and their three children in Yemen, Aden, 2019.[13]

Both parents lost their jobs after the 2015 civil war and suffered from the economic crisis in Yemen.[14]

The movie[15] starts with Isra’a finding out about her pregnancy, which is shocking news to the parents as they opt to abort in a society that condemns the act both culturally and religiously.[16]

The parents can't find medical assistance as several doctors turn them down, and they avoid the traditional way since Isra’a is anemic, which can pose a threat to her life if she does so.[17]

Ahmed asks Isra’a to seek the help of her close friend, Dr. Muna. The parents meet with Muna, who refuses to help out and warns Isra’about committing the forbidden.[18]

As they reach a dead end, Ahmed manages to get a traditional midwife who can perform the abortion at home. Muna finds out and stops the action at the right moment.[19]

Muna is finally convinced under pressure and decides to perform the surgery herself when she realizes that Isra’a would do it at any cost.[20]

After the operation, Muna ignores all of Isra’a's attempts to contact her. Isra’a feels remorse for both Mona and the abortion, but Ahmed convinces her that they must adapt and move on for the sake of their children.

The film ends with a new morning in Aden, and the family is on the way to the children's school. On the faces of the parents, there are features mixed between relief and fear of the upcoming burden.[16]

Cast
  • Khaled Hamdan as Ahmed
  • Abeer Mohammed as Isra'a
  • Samah Alamrani as Muna
  • Islam Saleem as Anwar
  • Roaa Al-Hamshari as Nouran
  • Omar Elyas as Nawar

Production

In 2021,[21] Director Amr Gamal started shooting his second feature film, The Burdened, which was shot entirely in Aden City with a joint Yemeni and foreign crew. Due to the complex political situation in Yemen,[22] filming continued for 70 days.[23] Filming began on August 24, 2021, and ended on November 10, 2021. During filming, the cast and crew were stuck in a hotel in Aden for five days due to armed confrontations surrounding the hotel.[24]

The Burdened is a co-production between Yemen, Sudan,[25] and Saudi Arabia with the participation of artists and technicians from Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, Lebanon, India, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and the Czech Republic.[3]

The pre-production and production of the film were funded by Yemeni businessmen and the Yemeni government. As a result of the great success of the director's first film, 10 Days Before the Wedding, local businessmen, the government, and the Southern Transitional Council were interested in supporting his new film.[26]

Later the film received post-production funding from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival,[27] Malmo Arab Film Festival,[28] and the Red Sea International Film Festival.[29][30]

Release

On 18 February 2023,[31] The Burdened became the first Yemeni film[32] to be screened at [33]the Berlin International Film Festival,[2] and then it was screened at a number of international film festivals[34] such as Sydney International Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, Valencia International Film Festival, Taipei International Film Festival, and Durban International Film Festival. The film was released commercially in Taiwan theaters on August 11, 2023.[35][36]

Reception

The Burdened has received widespread critical acclaim from both film critics and audiences.[37] The film won several awards at several international film festivals.[38] Jonathan Romney of Screen International said, "What’s striking is how extremely spare and to the point Gamal’s storytelling style is: there’s zero fat on the bones of this story, giving the film a taut directness". Jay Weissberg of The Film Verdict said, "a rigorously controlled, moving evocation of a family exhausted by the difficulties of keeping it all together".[39]

Awards and nominations
Year Award CategoryNominee(s) ResultRef.
2023 Berlin International Film Festival Amnesty Award The Burdened Won [40]
2023 Berlin International Film Festival Panorama Audience Award The Burdened Won
Second Place		 [40][41]
2023 Valencia International Film Festival Best Film The Burdened Nominated [40]
2023 Valencia International Film Festival Jury Prize (Best Director) The Burdened Won [40]
2023 Valencia International Film Festival Jury Prize (Best Writing) The Burdened Won [40]
2023 Durban International Film Festival Best Film The Burdened Nominated [40]
2023 Durban International Film Festival Best Writing The Burdened Won [40]
2023 Yerevan International Film Festival Best Asian Film The Burdened Nominated [40]
2023 Taipei Film Festival Best Film
(Grand Prize)		 The Burdened Nominated [40]
2023 Taipei Film Festival Best Film
(Special Jury Prize)		 The Burdened Won [40]
2023 The Septimius Awards Best Asian Actor The Burdened Nominated [40]

See also

References
  1. Keslassy, Elsa (15 December 2022). "Films Boutique Boards Berlinale Panorama Movie 'The Burdened' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  2. Odoj, Christin. "Berlinale-Panorama: Emotionaler Ausnahmezustand in »Al Murhaqoon«". nd-aktuell.de (in German). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. Zaveri, Rhythm (1 March 2023). "THE BURDENED wins Amnesty International Film Award, second place Audience Award in Berlinale's Panorama Section". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. Balaga, Marta (8 July 2022). "'We Want to Tell Our Untold Stories,' Say the Creators of Yemeni Abortion Drama 'The Burdened'". Variety. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  5. Independent, Egypt (4 July 2023). "'The Burdened' wins 2 prizes at Valencia International Film Festival". Egypt Independent. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. "The Burdened". Sydney Film Festival. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. "The Burdened 2023". www.bjiff.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. Reporter, Staff (3 July 2023). "Yemeni film 'The Burdened' bags two awards at Valencia International Film Festival". BroadcastPro ME. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  9. "腹荷 The Burdened - 台北電影節 Taipei Film Festival". www.taipeiff.taipei. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. "THE BURDENED – Durban International Film Festival". Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. "8 Arab Films Join the Race for the 96th Academy Award for Best International Feature Film". Women of Egypt. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  12. south24 (19 February 2023). "The Burdened: The First South Yemeni Film Premieres in Berlin". South24. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  13. Solutions, M. A. D. "THE BURDENED sets a precedent for Yemeni cinema with a historic premiere at the Berlinale - MAD Distribution Films". mad-distribution.film. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  14. Elmahdy, Basma (23 August 2023). "'The Burdened' Is Not Your Typical Yemeni Civil War Film". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  15. Abbatescianni, Davide (23 June 2023). "The Burdened: A striking abortion drama set in Yemen". www.newarab.com/. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  16. "Al Murhaqoon | The Burdened". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  17. "The Burdened". Roffa Mon Amour. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  18. "The Burdened (2023) | Film, Trailer, Kritik". www.kino-zeit.de. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  19. "The Burdened (2023)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  20. Romney, Jonathan. "'The Burdened': Berlin Review". Screen. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  21. Rosati, Adriana (14 February 2023). "The Burdened to hold its world premiere at Berlinale, set a precedent for Yemeni cinema". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  22. "Movie "Al Murhaqoon": The taboo of abortion". www.goethe.de. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  23. SensCritique. "Les Lueurs d'Aden - Film (2023)". SensCritique (in French). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  24. "Berlinale's first Yemeni feature film: The taboo of abortion - Qantara.de". Qantara.de - Dialogue with the Islamic World. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  25. "The Burdened". FCAT | Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa~Tánger. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  26. "The Burdened - The Film Verdict". 20 February 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  27. Barraclough, Leo (5 July 2022). "Yemeni Project 'The Burdened' Among Winners at Karlovy Vary Industry Awards". Variety. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  28. Alessaei, Riyadh (19 February 2023). "The Burdened: First Film Premieres in Berlin from South". South Arabia Media Agency. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  29. "RedSeaIFF achievements 2023 – Red Sea Film". redseafilmfest.com. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  30. "Critique film THE BURDENED". Abus de Ciné (in French). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  31. Saito, Stephen (20 February 2023). ""Al Murhaqoon (The Burdened)" - Berlinale 2023 Film Review". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  32. Elzaitony, Pasant (25 February 2023). "THE BURDENED Wins Amnesty International Film Award". Sada Elbalad. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  33. "Al Murhaqoon | The Burdened - Panorama 2023". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  34. S.L, EDICIONES PLAZA. "'The Burdened': una mirada al aborto desde Yemen". Cultur Plaza (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  35. Sequeira, Gayle (21 February 2023). "Dispatch from Berlinale 2023: Abortion Drama Al Murhaqoon Offers A Rare Glimpse of Life in Yemen". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  36. "The Panorama Audience Awards Go to Sira by Apolline Traoré and Kokomo City by D. Smith". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  37. Romney, Jonathan. "'The Burdened': Berlin Review". Screen. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  38. The Burdened (2023), retrieved 6 September 2023
  39. "'We Want to Tell Our Untold Stories,' Say the Creators of Yemeni Abortion Drama 'The Burdened'". news.yahoo.com. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  40. "The Burdened". IMDb. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  41. "The Panorama Audience Awards Go to Sira by Apolline Traoré and Kokomo City by D. Smith". Berlinale. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
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