Inshallah a Boy
A Jordanian widow risks everything by fabricating a male heir to keep her daughter and home from a predatory relative.
Overview
A poignant tale of sacrifice and resilience unfolds as a mother navigates the complexities of family and tradition.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- intimate
- oppressive
- weary
- reflective evening
- international cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praise the film as a precise, socially grounded drama elevated by Mouna Hawa's weary and expressive performance and its suspenseful treatment of patriarchal bureaucracy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nawal must manipulate pregnancy and inheritance procedures while confronting a patriarchal social order described as a labyrinth of institutional dead ends.
The central conflict depends on Jordanian inheritance laws and a male relative's attempt to exploit them.
Nawal pretends to be pregnant with a son because the status of a male heir could protect her daughter and home.
The film is characterized as a precision-tooled social-realist drama, emphasizing lived-in weariness and controlled emotional expression.
Films like Inshallah a Boy, and why
The Perfect Candidate
social realist drama about women constrained by patriarchal institutions, with an intimate and quietly tense tone
A Separation
female centered social drama portraying legal and cultural barriers through grounded performances and restrained suspense
Mustang
politically conscious family drama centered on a woman's struggle against rigid social structures and institutional injustice
Movie Details
- Director
- Amjad Al-Rasheed
- Release Date
- 2024-01-12
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (26)
Cast
- Mouna Hawa
- Haitham Omari
- Yumna Marwan
- Salwa Nakkara
- Mohammad Al Jizawi
- Eslam Al-Awadi
- Seleena Rababah
- Siranoush Sultanian
- Serene Huleileh
- Mohammad Suleiman
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Inshallah a Boy about?
- A Jordanian widow risks everything by fabricating a male heir to keep her daughter and home from a predatory relative.
- What is Inshallah a Boy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Inshallah a Boy as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Inshallah a Boy violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Inshallah a Boy.
- What did critics think of Inshallah a Boy?
- Critics broadly praise the film as a precise, socially grounded drama elevated by Mouna Hawa's weary and expressive performance and its suspenseful treatment of patriarchal bureaucracy.
- Which films are like Inshallah a Boy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Perfect Candidate, A Separation, and Mustang.
- How long is Inshallah a Boy?
- Inshallah a Boy runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch Inshallah a Boy?
- In United States, Inshallah a Boy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
