No matter where you go, families are extremely complex. Each member of the family has their own identity and a set of thoughts. Sometimes these are things that can bring people closer together, other times they tear them apart. Basma is a new South Arabian drama film on Netflix by Fatima AlBanawi about this kind of entanglement in a young Saudi woman’s (also called Basma) family. She moved to the United States for higher education many years ago. This year she didn’t make it back home to Jeddah due to the pandemic, but when she did, everything had been changed.
A couple months ago Basma’s mother divorced her father without telling her because she was afraid this could affect their daughter’s plans abroad. However, it was not just an argument that led to separation. All along, her mom had kept some harsh truths hidden from her concerning divorce. His father has had mental issues before, however he never wanted to take his medication thus making it hard for others to live with him leading into divorce.
This is hard for Basma as she has never seen such a side of her family before. To her this was as normal as all those ideal versions she met with in life. Since coming back from the US, she hasn’t yet met him face to face within the family setting so on getting an opportunity, she goes against the wish of both mother and brother and meets him up anyway. Despite knowing his stubbornness which sometimes results in tantrums at times, Basma remembers how loving his father is/was once upon a time what he really meant by “stubborn.” For example he will always stand by what he did during his medical education whenever there is somebody who contradicts or defies him including everybody else in general according to Basma: It is easy for her because even if that means spending some time with someone who tends towards obstinacy like him does not matter.
Gradually, Basma’s relationship with her father develops as she listens to what others have to say about him. This time, she visits people from her past and also gets a glimpse of her older self through their eyes. How offshore lifestyle has influenced her all these years until after coming back is noticed by Basma. As such, she becomes so fond of him that at one point Basma even stands up for her father in front of others. It shows her pity towards his apparent loneliness resulting from concern related to the old age of a parent.
Throughout the film, Fatima AlBanawi carefully constructs different sides of Basma’s character so that it feels natural and plausible when she finally grows up. Before leaving America, Basma cut off her hair and donated it to charity. Moreover in her profession, she seeks collective not personal rewards as seen by the fact that there are so many sustainable solutions that can be found in this field. Even some very impulsive or irrational demands on his part won’t prevent her from putting his needs first. That is why it reflects a lack of any egoistic tendencies within such an altruistic personality like hers because everything embodies selflessness for Basma however; it does not mean that she does not want things which every other youth wants in life.
Basma’s father is as sensitive as her. He has a condition that does not define him but only shows another side of his complex personality. There are times when he is calm, patient, understanding and Wise as well. The other times you see the reflection of bad qualities. While tying those knots, AlBanawi’s play never turns into a binary drama script. It knows that we are not just what we show or choose to see of ourselves as people. AlBanawi and Yasir AlSasi’s thought provoking acting beautifully portrays different sides of Basma and her baba.
However, “Basma” suffers from some problems here and there. Sometimes it becomes too sentimental in a moment unnecessarily thus sounding off-key at these times. Moreover, the script also attempts to link Basma’s personal experiences with environmental management profession. Still, AlBanawi seems sincere even if this connection feels rather forced fit. It was possible to do away with equally syrupy moments like this and shorten its duration by a little bit more than one hour without losing anything much on the plot whatsoever. Nevertheless, “Basma” while lacking any innovative or revolutionary aspects serves you right on your heartstrings, for sure!
Watch Basma For Free On Putlocker.