Snow White

Iman is a true romantic. After days spent working in the archives, she dreams of an unattainable movie star and chats on a dating app with Amad who is already proposing a future together. But Iman, who charms him with her eloquence and humour, doesn’t tell him she's a person of short stature, because she knows what kind of attitudes and rejection little people face in their daily lives. It's not enough that service counters and bus benches are too high: the prejudices Iman faces also overshadow his sister's marriage ambition, which is surprisingly dependent on one high-end refrigerator.

Director Taghrid Abouelhassan's second feature-length film Snow White is a light-hearted but perceptive drama about the experiences of little people in a society where women’s status is otherwise defined by strict norms. Abouelhassan makes everyday observations with empathy and quiet humour. The sisters, searching for love within the strict constraints of life, are forced to consider what they really want from their relationships and when it is time to let go of their pink dreams. 

Mariam Sherif gives a charismatic performance as Iman, bringing both sensitivity and strength to the character.

Piia Latvala