2020/2021 Winners & Shortlists

Write a short summary of what happens in the film

The term ‘motherland’ is defined as, ‘is the country in which you or your ancestors were born and to which you still feel emotionally linked, even if you live somewhere else.’ A mother is your home, your comfort zone, and your safe place, much similar to your country in every sense. Regardless of one’s age, gender, or geographical proximity to home, an intimate bond always exists between a child and their mother, exactly like that connection one might feel to their home country. Through a variety of individuals across different ages and situations, the film captures the moments of the need to call out your mother at a time of need, varying from a literal call to help, or a comforting call of needing to hear their voice. To celebrate Saudi Arabia’s National Day, the film connects a complementing celebration of mothers everywhere, including the maternal celebration of the motherland.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Similar to any language or dialect, the word ‘mother’ has different variations in Saudi Arabia’s Arabic dialect. Depending on your social class, upbringing or even situationally, a child or a grownup will refer to their mother in different forms. Within the language, the word mother is often integrated in common phrases or expressions that are frequently used to assert a feeling or emotion. For instance, the statement ‘Oh Mother!’ is often used when in a moment of fear or distress, which originated from the need of comfort received from a mother to her child at a moment of desperation.