Studio Ragheb

When Aziza finally shares a recurring dream, it’s what she leaves unsaid that reveals her fractured sense of self. Aziza’s dream – in which she must sing a song – takes her on a journey through the post-industrial hills of the American Rust Belt, the eternal fields of Egypt, and the most repressed parts of her mind.

Ahmed (Ahmed T. Ragheb), an Egyptian-American aspiring actor, anxiously awaiting news of his latest film audition, gives in to his superstitions and sets off on a journey across Pittsburgh, trying to force the hands of fate. Lily (Grace Cooper), a photography student, meanwhile, criss-crosses the city unseen on a journey of her own, photographing and recalling scenes from her past.

An Egyptian living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reflects on his new surroundings through a series of images and observations. The resulting montage is a poignant cinematic postcard that explores the contradictory nature of the immigrant experience: at once lonely, frightening, and exhilarating.

A couple’s wedding day and an Amtrak train route are intertwined in this personal exploration of marriage and contemporary America. An enormous story – a train journey, a wedding and a tragedy – all in two minutes. A remarkable example of cinematic economy of means, the film’s brevity does not deter from its impact. Based on true events.

A fragmented encounter on a Tuscan train leads to an unsettling meditation on intimacy, violence, and communication in this part-travelogue, part-city symphony.