RABIA

In the organizer's words:

FRA/BRD/BEL 2024, Feature film, 94 min, FSK 12

Director: Mareike Engelhardt

with: Megan Northam, Lubna Azabal, Natacha Krief

Language: OmU (French, Arabic, English with German subtitles)

Content Notes: 1, 2, 6, 3, 5

Lured by the promise of a different life, 19-year-old French girl Jessica and her best friend Laïla leave their home country to join the so-called Islamic State in Syria. When they arrive in Raqqa, their passports, cell phones, jewelry and clothes are confiscated and the women are taken to a "madafa". A house intended for future wives of IS fighters. Together with women from different countries, they submit to strict rules, pray and pay homage to the fighters and their supposed victories. But when the man to whom Jessica and Laïla were promised as joint wives falls in battle, their fate changes abruptly. The charismatic madame who runs the house has set her sights on Jessica, who now goes by the name Rabia, as her possible successor. As the pressure on her grows, "Rabia" has to decide which life she wants to lead.

Mareike Engelhardt's impressive feature film is based on numerous interviews that the director conducted with returnees. It exemplifies a frightening phenomenon and raises questions about the construction of and motivation in totalitarian systems. Together with the actors (including the always worth seeing Lubna Azabal), she succeeds in gaining sensitive access to the emotional world of her protagonists, while maintaining a critical distance to the disturbing developments without voyeurism.

An online director's talk with the director will take place on February 5.

ENG: Lured by the promise of a different life, 19-year-old Jessica and her best friend Laïla leave France to join the so-called Islamic State in Syria. When they arrive, their passports, cell phones, jewelry and clothing are confiscated and the women are led to a "Madafa", a house intended for the future wives of IS fighters. But when the man to whom Jessica and Laïla were promised as common wives falls in battle, their fate changes abruptly.
Mareike Engelhardt's impressive feature film is based on numerous interviews that the director conducted. Together with the actresses, she succeeds in gaining a sensitive approach to the emotional world of her young protagonists, while at the same time maintaining a critical distance from the disturbing developments. (French, Arabic, English with German subtitles)

There will be an online Q&A with director Mareike Engelhardt after the screening on February, 5.

Price information:

- 7.00 € (regular) - 5.50 € (reduced*) - 3.50 € (with Leipzig Pass, disabled pass, volunteer pass) - Films longer than 130 min: + 1.00 € - Tickets are available online (plus € 0.70 booking fee), remaining tickets at the Box Office.