al-Naus

Directed by Majdi El-Omari

A young Palestinian in exile explores his connection to a land he wasn’t born in, influenced by his father’s language and his grandmother’s stories from Gaza. He meets Nu’ma, who introduces him to Om-Mazen, another exile in Egypt. Om-Mazen, filled with questions and roots, shares stories and melodies with the young man, who listens as she reminisces about her childhood. The girls around them describe the bond between Om-Mazen and the young man, each with their own stories and connections to places like Nablus and Beirut. Their characters, along with Om-Mazen, the young man, and the melody, become intertwined, with the wind always present, causing the branch to quiver.