A beautiful debut brightened by the power of collective movement
Twelve-year-old Eya lives in Brussels with her Tunisian Muslim family. She is strongly close to her older brother Younes, with whom she spends a lot of time. When he suddenly dies, Eya’s world collapses. The teenager must find her own way to overcome this ordeal, using her creativity, the relationships she forges, and, most importantly, her faith.
This rebellious first feature, unafraid to explore an extremely intimate territory where grief can sink into the abyss, is above all carried by a luminous life force. And it is in the strength of collective movement that it finds its most beautiful scenes, nourished by performances that are just the right amount of honest and sensitive.
« Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama, en concentrant son regard sur Eya, en captant son énergie d’enfant dans un monde de grands et un temps régi par les adultes, parvient à saisir la force et la fragilité ces instants où la vie retrouve son chemin malgré le deuil. »
Aurore Engelen Cineuropa 25/02/2025
“A sensitive and emotionally intimate exploration of cultural identity amidst grief."
Deborah Young The Film Verdict 13/07/2025
Special Mention of the Generation 14plus International Jury, Berlin International Film Festival, 2025, de
Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama
Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama is a Belgian-Tunisian-Danish screenwriter and director, born and living in Brussels. In 2020, she graduated from the LUCA School of Arts and directed her first short film, Okht Elmarhoum. She co-founded the Bledarte organization, which champions the expression and empowerment of immigrant youth through art and culture. Her first feature film, Têtes Brûlées, was selected for the 2025 Berlinale’s Generation section.
