Scales (film) explained

Scales
Director:Shahad Ameen
Starring:Basima Hajjar
Cinematography:João Ribeiro
Runtime:74 minutes
Country:Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Iraq
Language:Arabic
Gross:$4,617[1]

Scales ("Mistress of the Sea") is a 2019 internationally co-produced mystery drama film directed by Shahad Ameen.[2] It was selected as the Saudi Arabian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[3]

Plot

On a remote island, families ensure a bountiful fishing yield for the village by sacrificing a daughter to the sea. At one such ceremony, Muthana (Al Farhan), is set to sacrifice his daughter but rescues her at the last minute.

Twelve years later, the daughter, Hayat (Hajjar), is ostracized from her family and community; one of her feet is covered in a small patch of scales. Her mother's new pregnancy appears to be an opportunity for a second daughter to sacrifice, which would allow Hayat to rejoin her family. When the new child is a boy, Hayat is again brought to the sea for sacrifice, and escapes once more.

It is revealed that the villagers are harvesting and eating mermaids, who originated as the daughters sent to the sea. Hayat joins the men and boys of her village on a fishing boat, where she is often at odds with their leader, Amer (Barhoum). In a final act of defiance, she returns to the sea which swallows her whole.[4]

Cast

Production

Scales was filmed on the Musandam Peninsula in Oman.[4]

Release

Scales premiered during the International Critics' Week section of the Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Verona Film Club Award.[5] In July 2021, Variance Films released the film in New York City and Los Angeles.[4]

Reception

Critical reception

[6]

Accolades

AwardCeremony dateCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Venice Film Festival7 September 2019International Critics' WeekScales
Verona Film Club AwardScales
BFI London Film Festival13 October 2019Best First FeatureScales[7]
Carthage Film Festival2 November 2019Official Competition Narrative Feature FilmScales[8]
Taipei Film Festival11 July 2020International New Talent CompetitionScales[9]
Sydney Science Fiction Film Festival21 November 2020Best Feature FilmScales[10]
Best DirectorShahad Ameen
Best Lead Actress in a Feature FilmBasima Hajjar

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scales. Box Office Mojo. 16 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Saudi Director Shahad Ameen on Subverting Patriarchal Power in 'Scales' . Variety . 3 January 2021.
  3. Web site: Oscars International Entries Are Close to New Record, But Voters Can’t See Them All Yet . Pond . Steve . The Wrap . 17 December 2020 . 17 December 2020.
  4. Web site: Simon . Alyssa . ‘Scales’ Review: A Visually Compelling Feminist Parable Featuring Mermaids . Variety . 14 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Q&A with Shahad Ameen . William & Mary . 14 May 2024.
  6. Web site: Scales . Rotten Tomatoes . 14 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Sharma . Karina . Khulood . Ahmed . Why This Saudi Director is Dominating International Film Festivals . Vogue Arabia . 14 May 2024.
  8. Web site: Awards . JCC Carthage Film Festival . 14 May 2024.
  9. Web site: Shackleton . Liz . Taipei Film Festival to go ahead as physical event without overseas guests . Screen Daily . 14 May 2024.
  10. Web site: A World of Sci-Fi Honoured at Sydney Science Fiction Festival . Screen-Space . 14 May 2024.