Boomah – coming soon, hopefully!
By Rita Di Santo
The Best Actress award was presented to Egyptian actress Rakeen Saad for her compelling performance in Boomah, directed by Zaid Abu. This film is a poignant contemporary fairy tale that weaves together elements of dark comedy and the gangster genre to explore poverty, isolation, and the instinct to survive.
At the heart is Boomah herself, a young orphan who defies the glamorous portrayals typical of commercial Egyptian cinema. Unlike the elegant, well-dressed women often seen on screen, Boomah is an outcast who dresses like a boy, lives alone without paying rent, and carries a knife tucked into her waistband. In the marketplace, she is shunned and looked upon with disdain, except by a friend who discreetly delivers love letters for her to pass on to her secret lover.
Boomah works for the boss of the local criminal gang, where she plays a pivotal role alongside other members in enforcing their own version of the law. She is fierce and formidable, exhibiting a level of violence and aggression that rivals that of her male counterparts.
Amidst the film’s dark satire and commentary, a subtle thread of humanity emerges when Boomah forms a bond with an orphaned girl. She takes the girl under her wing, bringing her home and integrating her into her makeshift family. This relationship adds a layer of tenderness to the narrative, evoking Chaplinesque moments rich with compassion and warmth.
A bold mix of gangster movie, comedy and social satire that defies easy categorisation. Abu Hamdan directs with a confident, cinematic style balancing gritty realism with absurdist flourishes and never losing sight of the humanity at the core of his most hardened characters.
