New Movies: Aisha Can't Fly Away (2025) by Morad Mostafa: A Poignant Tale of Trauma and Resilience in the Aftermath of the Cairo Fire
- dailyentertainment95
- Jun 3
- 11 min read
Updated: Jun 5
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" is the feature film debut of acclaimed Egyptian director Morad Mostafa, known for his award-winning short films. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 in the Un Certain Regard section. It tells the harrowing story of Aisha, a young girl living in a marginalized community in Cairo, who struggles to process the trauma of her family being burned in a fire that engulfed their home. With her father unjustly imprisoned for arson, Aisha navigates a complex world of grief, accusation, and the fight for justice and emotional healing, all against the backdrop of a community grappling with poverty and social injustice.
Summary Short
Morad Mostafa's debut feature, "Aisha Can't Fly Away" (2025), which premiered at Cannes 2025, follows young Aisha in a marginalized Cairo community. She grapples with the trauma of her family's burn injuries from a devastating fire, while her father is wrongly accused and imprisoned for arson. The film is a poignant exploration of resilience, justice, and the impact of tragedy on a family and community.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27907966/
Link to watch (industry professionals): https://pro.festivalscope.com/film/aisha-cant-fly
Detailed Summary
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" marks the highly anticipated feature film debut of Egyptian director Morad Mostafa, whose previous short films, Khartoum (2021) and What We Don't Know About 'Mariam' (2020), garnered international acclaim and played at prestigious festivals like Venice, Clermont-Ferrand, and BFI London. This debut feature premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2025 as part of the Un Certain Regard official selection, a significant milestone for Egyptian cinema.
The film is set in one of Cairo's marginalized communities and centers on Aisha, a young girl whose life is irrevocably altered by a devastating fire that engulfs her family home, leaving her mother and siblings severely burned. Adding to the family's trauma, Aisha's father is unjustly imprisoned, accused of arson. As the film unfolds, Aisha navigates a complex and emotionally charged environment. She is burdened by the psychological weight of the tragedy, compounded by the community's suspicions and accusations, and the injustice of her father's incarceration.
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" delves into Aisha's personal journey of grief and resilience, exploring how she attempts to process the trauma while also fighting for her father's freedom and the truth behind the fire. The narrative is expected to be a poignant and raw portrayal of a child's experience of extreme adversity, highlighting themes of poverty, social injustice, and the human spirit's capacity for survival and healing.
Mostafa's previous works have been praised for their sensitive portrayal of women's experiences and social issues in Egypt, often employing a naturalistic and empathetic lens. This feature debut is anticipated to continue that tradition, offering a powerful, character-driven drama that sheds light on overlooked communities and their struggles. The film is a co-production between Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, showcasing a collaborative effort to bring this important story to the screen.
Plot Summary
The Tragedy: A devastating fire engulfs the home of Aisha's family in a marginalized Cairo community, leaving her mother and siblings with severe burn injuries.
False Accusation & Imprisonment: Aisha's father is wrongly accused of arson and subsequently imprisoned, adding to the family's plight.
Aisha's Struggle: Young Aisha is left to grapple with the emotional trauma of the fire, her family's physical suffering, and the injustice of her father's situation.
Community Dynamics: The film explores the reactions and suspicions within the community towards Aisha and her family in the aftermath of the fire.
Search for Truth and Justice: Aisha, despite her young age, embarks on a journey to understand what truly happened and to fight for her father's freedom and the family's healing.
Themes of Resilience: The narrative focuses on Aisha's resilience and her ability to navigate immense adversity, portraying her internal strength and determination.
Social Commentary: The film subtly weaves in commentary on poverty, social injustice, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in Cairo.
Director's Vision
Morad Mostafa's vision for "Aisha Can't Fly Away" is deeply rooted in his established artistic concerns and commitment to authentic storytelling about overlooked communities in Egypt.
Empathetic Portrayal of Vulnerability: Mostafa aims to tell a deeply human story from the perspective of a young, vulnerable girl, highlighting her resilience in the face of immense trauma and injustice. His previous shorts have focused on sensitive portrayals of women and children, and this film is expected to continue that.
Giving a Voice to the Marginalized: The film is set in a "marginalized community in Cairo," reflecting Mostafa's consistent effort to shed light on segments of Egyptian society often unseen or misrepresented in mainstream cinema.
Naturalistic and Immersive Style: Drawing from his background in documentary-style filmmaking, Mostafa is expected to employ a naturalistic approach, aiming for an immersive experience that puts the audience directly into Aisha's world.
Exploring Trauma and Healing: The film focuses not just on the event of the fire but on the long-term psychological and emotional aftermath, exploring the complex process of grieving and healing within a family and community context.
Critique of Injustice: While focusing on personal drama, the narrative subtly critiques systemic injustices, such as the wrongful imprisonment of the father, and the broader societal issues that contribute to the family's suffering.
Cultural Specificity with Universal Themes: Mostafa aims to tell a story that is deeply rooted in its specific Egyptian context but resonates with universal themes of family, loss, resilience, and justice.
Themes
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" explores several powerful and timely themes:
Trauma and Resilience: The central theme of how a young girl copes with profound physical and psychological trauma and finds the strength to endure and seek truth.
Injustice and Accusation: The wrongful imprisonment of Aisha's father highlights systemic injustice and the devastating impact of false accusations.
Family Bonds: The film delves into the complexities of family relationships under duress, including parental love, sibling bonds, and community support (or lack thereof).
Marginalization and Poverty: Set in a marginalized Cairo community, the film implicitly comments on the socioeconomic challenges faced by these groups and how these vulnerabilities are exacerbated by tragedy.
Truth and Perception: The narrative likely explores how truth can be obscured by rumor, prejudice, and official narratives, and Aisha's struggle to uncover what truly happened.
Child's Perspective on Adversity: The film offers a unique and sensitive portrayal of a traumatic event through the eyes of a child, focusing on their understanding and coping mechanisms.
Key Success Factors
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" has achieved early success due to:
Cannes Premiere: Its selection for the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 immediately provided significant international visibility and critical validation for Morad Mostafa's feature debut.
Morad Mostafa's Rising Star Status: Building on the success of his acclaimed short films, there was considerable anticipation for his first feature, attracting festival programmers and industry attention.
Powerful and Relevant Story: The film tackles universal themes of trauma, resilience, and injustice through a specific, poignant narrative, making it emotionally compelling and culturally significant.
International Co-Production: The involvement of multiple countries (Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Belgium) indicates strong financial backing and a broad network for distribution and promotion.
Emphasis on Human Drama: While set against a backdrop of social issues, the film's primary focus on Aisha's emotional journey makes it deeply relatable and impactful.
Strong Sales Representation: Cessac Distribution, a reputable sales agent, will help secure international distribution deals.
Awards and Nominations (Speculative for 2025)
As of June 2025, "Aisha Can't Fly Away" is very early in its festival run.
Cannes Film Festival 2025:
Official Selection: Un Certain Regard (This is a highly prestigious selection, signifying critical recognition).
Nominated for the Caméra d'Or (for best first feature across all Cannes selections).
Its official poster reached the finals of the 2nd Prix Luciole at Cannes.
Venice International Film Festival: Won the Final Cut Award at the 81st Venice International Film Festival (prior to its Cannes premiere, a development award).
Red Sea Lodge: Swept a top award.
Marrakech International Film Festival: Won the Atlas Award.
(More awards and nominations would likely follow as the film continues its festival circuit into late 2025 and 2026.)
Critics Reception
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" has received overwhelmingly positive and "glowing" reviews following its Cannes premiere, solidifying Morad Mostafa's place as a vital voice in contemporary Arab cinema.
Overall Consensus: Critics have widely praised the film for its emotional depth, strong performances, visual artistry, and its courageous engagement with difficult social realities. It's frequently described as a poignant, immersive, and visually striking debut feature.
Praise Highlights:
"Filthy genius movie" - Eoghan Lyng, Dirty Movies.
"A landmark cinematic moment" - Mohamed Tarek, Chroum.
"Visually slick" - Olivia Popp (for cinematography).
"An involving human drama focusing on the plight of the vulnerable caught in a world that seeks to exploit them" - Allan Hunter, ScreenDaily, drawing comparisons to City of God for its raw depiction of Cairo's underbelly and "feeling of a lawless frontier."
Buliana Simon's Performance: Her portrayal of Aisha has been singled out for particular acclaim, described as "haunting," "stunning," and "precise," with Sara Clements of Next Best Picture noting that Simon "communicates so much with her eyes alone that this could be a silent film, and we would be able to understand everything."1
Morad Mostafa's Directorial Voice: Critics lauded his unique blend of "magical realism with naturalism and fantastical elements," transforming Aisha's suffering into "something almost mythic" (Sara Clements). His confident direction and ability to capture an "unromantic, unsanitized vision of urban Cairo" (IONCINEMA.com) were also highlighted.
Emotional Weight and Visuals: The film's "slow, dreamlike descent into a waking nightmare," its "suffocating" emotional weight, and the effective use of "dry, claustrophobic ambiances" by cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef were frequently praised.
Social & Political Resonance: Reviewers acknowledged the film's importance in discussing misogyny, the exploitation of immigrants/refugees, and the socio-political unrest in Cairo, with one Egyptian critic calling it "a bloody, violent stone" in a self-censoring cinematic landscape.
Minor Criticisms/Nuances:
Some reviews, like IONCINEMA.com, found the film "intriguing if uneven," suggesting that the blend of genres and ideas (drama, body horror, magical realism) didn't "entirely gel" for everyone, and that the narrative sometimes "struggles to do justice to every aspect of Aisha's story."
The "glacial" pacing was noted by some, indicating it might require patience from viewers.
One review suggested that the film's articulation of immigrant repression could be "both hamfisted and unclear" at times, while still acknowledging its overall impact.
Overall, the reception paints a picture of a bold, ambitious, and deeply affecting debut feature that has significantly impacted critics, particularly for its central performance and its raw, empathetic portrayal of a challenging subject.
Reviews (Highlights from various sources)
"Morad Mostafa's austere and captivating feature debut... An absorbing and at times, puzzling blend of genres ranging from drama to body horror tells the story of an African immigrant who both craves something more and deserves a lot better than the hand she's been dealt."2 - IMDb News / WTYE
"An involving human drama focusing on the plight of the vulnerable caught in a world that seeks to exploit them... There is an element of City Of God (2002) in the warren of streets and the feeling of a lawless frontier." - Allan Hunter, ScreenDaily
"A quiet storm – a slow-burning, relentless elegy to the women who live in the margins and walk among us unseen. ...Buliana Simon delivers a haunting performance. She communicates so much with her eyes alone that this could be a silent film, and we would be able to understand3 everything." - Sara Clements, Next Best Picture
"Filthy genius movie." - Eoghan Lyng, Dirty Movies
"A landmark cinematic moment." - Mohamed Tarek, Chroum
"Morad Mostafa brings an offbeat yet rebellious film to Un Certain Regard this year, focusing on misogyny and the breaking point of caretakers in the backdrop of a sociopolitically unrestful neighborhood...4 uncanny yet revolutionary film." - Film-Fest-Report.com
"Mostafa's direction is confident, and working with cinematographer Mostafa El Kashef, they capture a refreshingly unromantic, unsanitized vision of urban Cairo."5 - IONCINEMA.com
Production Summary
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" is a significant international co-production, involving multiple countries to support its independent vision.
Production Companies
Sawsan Yusuf Films (Egypt - lead production company)
Scope Pictures (Belgium)
La Belle Affaire Productions (France)
Cinephilia (Saudi Arabia)
The Film House (Qatar)
Bonanza Films
Nomadis Images
Film Clinic
Dulac Productions
Additional co-producers from other countries.
Sales Companies
Cessac Distribution (France): Handles international sales for the film, securing distribution deals in various territories.
Release date on streaming
A specific streaming release date for "Aisha Can't Fly Away" is not available. As an art-house film, it will likely have a festival run, followed by limited theatrical releases in select markets, and then become available on VOD/streaming platforms, possibly in late 2025 or early 2026, depending on distribution deals.
Theatrical Release
World Premiere: May 20, 2025, at the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard section).
Other Festival Screenings: Will continue through 2025 and into 2026 at major international film festivals.
General Theatrical Release: Limited theatrical releases in key art-house markets are expected to follow its festival circuit, likely in late 2025 or 2026.
Why to recommend this movie
Emerging Auteur's Feature Debut: For cinephiles interested in discovering new and important voices in world cinema, Morad Mostafa's first feature is a significant event.
Powerful and Empathetic Storytelling: The film offers a deeply moving and human perspective on trauma, resilience, and injustice through the eyes of a child, making it emotionally resonant.
Important Social Commentary: It sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of marginalized communities and systemic issues in Egypt, offering a window into another culture.
Cannes Selection: Its premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in Un Certain Regard signifies its high artistic quality and importance.
Authentic Portrayal: Mostafa's naturalistic style and commitment to authenticity in depicting his subjects will appeal to those who seek raw, unvarnished human drama.
Why to Watch Movie
If You Appreciate Social Realism: The film offers a grounded and realistic portrayal of life in a specific community, with a focus on socio-economic struggles.
For Emotional Depth: If you are drawn to character-driven dramas that explore complex human emotions like grief, resilience, and hope in the face of adversity.
To Experience Diverse Cinema: A chance to engage with a significant piece of contemporary Egyptian and Arab cinema, expanding your cinematic horizons.
If You Follow Film Festivals: For those who track award-winning and critically acclaimed films from major international festivals.
To Witness a Child's Perspective: The narrative is built around Aisha's journey, offering a unique and poignant lens through which to view the film's challenging themes.
What Movie Trend film is following
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" is a strong example of the "Social Realism / Neorealism Revival in World Cinema," particularly from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Definition of the Trend: This trend involves filmmakers creating narratives that deeply immerse themselves in the lived realities of ordinary people, often those from marginalized communities or facing systemic challenges. They typically employ naturalistic acting (often with non-professional or emerging actors), on-location shooting, and a focus on socio-economic issues, prioritizing authenticity and empathy over dramatic spectacle.
How "Aisha Can't Fly Away" Fits:
Focus on Marginalized Community: The setting in a Cairo shantytown directly aligns with this trend.
Exploration of Social Injustice: The themes of wrongful imprisonment, poverty, and the aftermath of tragedy speak to real-world societal problems.
Character-Driven Authenticity: Mostafa's known style prioritizes raw human emotion and realistic portrayals, often using sensitive, empathetic lenses for his characters, especially women and children.
Directorial Lineage: It follows in the footsteps of critically acclaimed social realist films from the MENA region that have found success at major festivals.
What Big Social Trend is following
The film directly engages with the social trend of "The Global Crisis of Vulnerability and Unseen Populations."
Definition of the Trend: This trend reflects a growing international awareness of and concern for populations made vulnerable by poverty, conflict, climate change, or systemic neglect. It highlights the human cost of global inequities, the challenges of accessing justice or aid, and the struggle for dignity and survival among those often overlooked by mainstream narratives or policies.
How "Aisha Can't Fly Away" Connects:
Marginalized Community: The film's setting directly addresses the plight of communities struggling with poverty and lack of resources.
Victims of Systemic Failure: The fire and the wrongful imprisonment of Aisha's father expose how individuals can become victims of broader societal or legal failures.
Child Vulnerability: Focusing on Aisha, a child, amplifies the theme of extreme vulnerability and the immense burden placed on young individuals in disadvantaged circumstances.
Giving Visibility: The film's very existence, premiering at a major festival, serves to give voice and visibility to populations and experiences that often remain "unseen" globally.
Final Conclusions
"Aisha Can't Fly Away" is a profoundly moving and significant debut feature from Morad Mostafa, solidifying his voice as a crucial storyteller in Egyptian and international cinema. Its premiere in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes 2025 immediately positions it as a must-see for those attuned to challenging and empathetic global narratives. The film's strength lies in its unflinching yet sensitive portrayal of a young girl's resilience in the face of immense trauma and injustice, set against the authentic backdrop of a marginalized Cairo community. It's a testament to the power of social realist filmmaking to shed light on urgent human stories and stimulate empathy. "Aisha Can't Fly Away" is a powerful, emotionally resonant work that confirms Mostafa as an emerging auteur deserving of international attention, promising a film that will resonate deeply and contribute significantly to discussions about vulnerability, justice, and the indomitable human spirit.
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