Aqsa & the 40bags
A young Muslim woman tries to save her downstairs neighbour
After the death of her mother, Aqsa Fatima - a young Arab, Muslim woman living in South East London, struggles with the new responsibility of caring for her six year old brother Amine.
Aqsaβs only solace and alone time are her daily Salats (prayers) and since her motherβs passing she has adhered to them reverently, even salat al-fajr - the dawn prayer. But she is not the only resident awake at this time; her downstairs neighbour Olu cannot sleep. Anxious and alone, he is sitting on an illegal secret hidden in his flat, one that was not his to keep.
When Oluβs pre-dawn smoking habits seep into and disturb Aqsaβs meditative solitude, she goes downstairs to confront him and is embroiled in his secret. But when her faith is tested, she must remember that she is called to help βthe neighbour who is known to her, as well as the neighbour who is a strangerβ (Quran 4:36). if she is to save the innocent Olu from persecution.
New Creatives is supported by Arts Council England and ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Arts.
Written and Directed β Amelia Joan Lock
Director of Photography β Agnieszka Kocinska
Producer β Nikta Mohammadi
Editor β Joe Watkins
Musical Score and Mixing β Babak Mirsalari
Max Gates as Olu
and Amelia Joan Lock as Aqsa
with Zachary Cohen as Amine
