Cinema 35mm
You will die at twenty
Seeking a blessing on the day of the naming ceremony of her firstborn son, Sakina (Islam Mubarak) receives a curse, owing to family disputes that occurred in the past. The village elder prophesies that her son, Muzamil (played first by Moatasem Rashed and, later, as a teenager, by Mustafa Shehata), will die when he turns 20 years old. Muzamil's father, a troubled man, is outraged, cannot bear the curse and ends up creating conflicts with his wife and breaking the family bond.
Marking Sudan's return to cinema, "You Will Die at Twenty" has been screened at several renowned international festivals
Growing up with only his mother and under the constant spectre of death, Muzamil places enormous value on life, becoming increasingly curious about what it means to live intensely, often even beyond the limits. Encouraged by the other villagers, Sakina urges her son to live day by day and to absorb as much knowledge as possible at school and in religion, so that he may find a possible solution to the terrible curse that has been placed upon him. On this eventful journey, Muzamil makes friends and enemies, finds love and many other temptations, although what he truly seeks is a chance to have a future.
This feature film is a landmark in Sudan's cinema scene, a country scarred by war that went practically without cinema for 30 years, yet has many stories to tell. A perfect tale that represents the beautiful culture of this region of north-eastern Africa, its customs, religious beliefs and way of life
The film is a co-production between Sudan, France, Norway, Germany and Egypt, directed and written by Amjad Abu Alala. It was entered in one edition of the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Lion of the Future, the award for best debut film. It was also shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, among other renowned international festivals.
