NOVEMBER 19 - December 03, 2021
barbican cinemas | ica | curzon soho | soas
AS I WANT
SAMAHER ALQADI | 2021 | 88’
wedneSDAY 01 DECEMBER | 20:30
BARBICAN CINEMA, SILK STREET, EC2Y 8DS
Cairo, January 2013: A mass wave of sexual assaults take place in Tahrir Square, with 80 incidents reported in a single day. In response, an outpour of women take over the streets. Not knowing where it would lead her, director Samaher Alqadi picks up her camera as a form of protection. With that, she starts an 8-year journey capturing the spectacular strength of a women's rebellion clashing with structurally immersed patriarchy. When Alqadi becomes pregnant during filming, a personal journey begins, where she re-examines her own childhood in Palestine, what it means to be a woman and a mother. Her imaginary conversation with her late mother forms words left unsaid, sharing her deepest secrets in an intimate inner voice. As I Want is as personally deep, as it is publicly explosive, putting urgent women's voices at the fore. This feature debut premiered at Berlinale's Encounters 2021 and marks Alqadi as a bold and necessary voice in documentary.