wmsmzns: this is - what we always wanted. it s in cinemas now. an egyptian teenager leads a double life in the new drama souad. 19 year old souad played by bassant ahmed wears her veil in public, but her social media tells a different story. she shares flirty photos and texts with her boyfriend, ahmed, whom she s never met. heryoungersister, rabab,
played by basmala el ghaiesh observes all of this and plays an increasingly key role in this film of two halves. it s a fascinating and disturbing look at the contradiction of young girls lives in modern day urban egypt. film maker ayten amin draws excellence performances from her cast of newcomers, and everyday scenes become riveting under her keen observational eye. i could ve watched the opening bus scene, in which souad tells various strangers tall stories about her fiance, for hours. and there is a subtle bathroom moment that speaks volumes about repressed female sexuality. souad s second half isn t quite as strong as its first, but it is still a real find when it comes to thoughtful art house fare. it s in cinemas now, including london s bfi southbank, spotted their season