Jalal’s Story
A river-found child passes through successive homes and hardens into a gangster as abandonment repeatedly reshapes his life.
Overview
A tale of resilience and survival, where a child's journey reflects the tumultuous currents of life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melancholic
- harrowing
- poignant
- serious drama night
- international cinema viewing
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jalal is rescued and adopted by Miraj, Karim, and Sajib at different stages before being abandoned again.
The plot follows Jalal’s movement from innocence into gangster life as adults repeatedly fail him.
Jalal is found in a river and described as a child shaped by its unpredictable currents.
Jalal’s journey is presented through changing caretakers and stages from childhood to gangsterhood.
Films like Jalal’s Story, and why
The Kid with a Bike
shared social realism, child-centered perspective, and critique of poverty and abandonment
Capernaum
shared coming-of-age drama, marginalized youth, and harsh social environments
Salaam Bombay!
shared South Asian social drama, poverty, and a protagonist shaped by unstable care
Movie Details
- Director
- Abu Shahed Emon
- Release Date
- 2014-11-22
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (8)
Cast
- Tauquir Ahmed
- H M Akter
- Mitali Das
- Ahmed Gias
- Mohammod Emon
- Mosharraf Karim
- Mousumi Hamid
- Shormy Mala
- Fazlul Haque
- Mizanur Rashid Khan
Common questions
- What is Jalal’s Story about?
- A river-found child passes through successive homes and hardens into a gangster as abandonment repeatedly reshapes his life.
- What is Jalal’s Story like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Jalal’s Story as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Jalal’s Story violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Jalal’s Story as moderate.
- Which films are like Jalal’s Story?
- Films with a similar feel include The Kid with a Bike, Capernaum, and Salaam Bombay!.
- How long is Jalal’s Story?
- Jalal’s Story runs 121 minutes.
