The Path of Memory, Between the Lands of Jasmine and Basil
Day26 OCT, 27 OCT
TimingMorning
CategoryDocumentary Film
Duration34 minutes min
Year2025 (United Arab Emirates Premiere)
LanguageArabic
SubtitleEnglish
CountrySaudi Arabia
Director(s)Areej Alghamdi
Synopsis
This documentary follows young Juman, whose heritage brings together the cultures of Jazan and Al Baha, with Arabian jasmine and basil becoming symbols of identity and belonging. Alongside her mother, filmmaker Areej, Juman embarks on a visual and emotional journey through the heritage of southern Saudi women, expressed through poetry, dance, and song. Exploring the relationship between the body and memory, the film celebrates the cultural presence of women from the region as Juman gradually discovers herself through the legacy of her grandmothers.
Director Details
Areej Alghamdi is a Saudi filmmaker, researcher, and Assistant Professor of Cinema at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. She holds a PhD in Film from Lancaster University, where her research focused on documenting the intangible cultural heritage of Saudi women through cinema. Her work explores memory, identity, women’s histories, and cultural preservation. Blending documentary with poetic and experimental filmmaking, Al-Ghamdi examines the relationship between the body, place, and cultural memory.
