Mariam

Story

Synopsis

The year is 2004. France has passed a law banning religious symbols in public schools. Mariam, born in France to Arab parents, recently began to wear the hijab after performing the hajj with her grandmother. At the start of the academic year, she pretends the new law does not exist, as she does not want to acknowledge it and so be forced to make a decision. To complicate matters, Karim, a popular young Arab boy in school, starts paying attention to her and she develops a powerful crush on him. While her fellow veiled classmates argue with teachers about their desire to keep wearing the hijab, and her parents argue about her wearing hers, Mariam dreams of Karim, despite her best friend Sophia’s warning that he is not serious. Things come to a head when the deadline for removing the hijab or facing expulsion falls the same week Mariam sees Karim with another girl.

Director

Faizah Ambah

Writers

Faizah Ambah

Language

French

Country

France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United States of America

Release date

8 April 2016

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Oulaya Amamra

  Mariam

• Lou Levy

  Sophia

• 

  Ahmed Hafiene

  Le père

• 

  Louka Masset

  Karim

• 

  Soumaye Bocoum

  Fatimata

• 

  Fadila Belkebla

  Mariam' Stepmother

• 

  Natalie Beder

  The Teacher

• Ahmed Afiene

  Mariam's Father

• 

  Éric Herson-Macarel