You Will Die at Twenty (12A) at South Hill Park

Directed by Amjad Abu Alala | Drama | Arabic | 103 mins | Sudan/Fr/Egy/Ger/Nor/Qat | 2019

Based on Sudanese writer Hammour Ziada’s short story, Sleeping at the Foot of the Mountain, follows the life of Muzamil from birth until his 20th birthday. At Muzamil’s initiation ceremony, a sheik prophesises that he will meet an early death at the age of twenty. Transfixed by his grim fate, his mother, Sakina becomes overprotective and forbids his education.You Will Die at Twenty

Muzamil becomes increasingly isolated, but his life changes when he meets a Sudanese cinematographer, who imparts his passion for cinema and existential ideas to the curious teenager. A conflict grows within Muzamil between his traditional values and newfound modern aspirations. Will he have the time to act out his desires?

Sudan’s first submission for the Oscars, is a wide-ranging coming-of-age drama. Filled with gorgeous imagery, director Abu Alala's ardent attention to…