About the Film
In three different storylines, When We Are Born follows the journeys of very different people whose lives have been controlled by circumstances and challenges they never chose to face.
Amin is an impoverished man who works with his wife, trying to provide for themselves, as well as his wife’s family that shares the same residence. He faces a moral dilemma when he is offered a financially lucrative, yet questionable job, tempting him to compromise his ethics. Another challenge is faced by Farah, a young middle-class woman who falls in love with someone who happens to be very different in a fundamental way. She finds herself torn, having to choose between keeping her lover, or all the other relationships in her life. Finally, we see Ahmad, a wealthy young man trying to achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a famous singer. His ambition is hindered by a difficult confrontation with his father, who insists that Ahmad’s career must only revolve around the family business.
Despite the different personalities and challenges presented in the three storylines of the film, the common underlying theme is love. Whether the story is about a relationship that faces too many obstacles to survive; or a relationship close to perfection, yet vulnerable enough to collapse upon hitting the first speed bump; or one only nurtured by a single individual, while the other dwells on personal issues… It all tells of love.
Another element that seems to bring everything together is the songs that accompany the film from the very beginning, and continue to complement its scenes throughout.
They serve as a musical description of the protagonists’ emotional states, adding another dimension to the three stories of love.
Andrew Mohsen
