El Gouna-Bound A PROMISE TO THE SEA explores how far one will go to fulfill a promise

To what lengths would you go to keep a promise? What if that promise was made to your mother? What if she’s gone, and you no longer feel obligated to fulfill it? Would you still follow through? In Hend Sohail’s directorial debut, A PROMISE TO THE SEA, set to have its Arab World premiere at the upcoming El Gouna Film Festival running from October 24th to November 1st, a son from a remote village makes that choice.

Blending thrill and drama, the film takes us on a journey from a distant village in Egypt, where a son, irrationally driven by grief, decides to take one bold action upon his mother’s death — transporting her corpse to the sea, a destination he doesn’t even know.

With only a few pounds in his pocket, a little gas in his car, and a photo of the sea, he is determined to fulfill a promise to his mother, regardless of the challenges he will face along the way.

However, in a heartfelt message sent from the divine, an angelic creature guides him throughout his harrowing journey on the high road, symbolizing the loyalty and friendship between him and his mother — a dog. At first, he tries to keep him away; however, the dog refuses as if he feels that there’s something common between them, which is loyalty, ultimately deciding to take the dog with him throughout his journey.

As he navigates his journey, he encounters numerous obstacles that stand between him and his destination. Nevertheless, he remains focused on fulfilling his mother’s wish, reflecting on the poetic nature of his journey and the strong connection he had with her.

The film also incorporates a humorous element, particularly when he asks a stranger how to get to the sea, revealing that he has never been there before. The stranger points out that there’s a Red Sea and a Mediterranean. However, the film is intentionally ambiguous about where the protagonist, played compellingly by Nabil Botros Talaan, is heading, hinting at a deeper meaning that the audience will understand later.

Directed by Hend Sohail and co-written with Omar Zinhom, the film is shot by Mostafa El Kashef, whose debut feature 19 B earned him the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the 2022 Cairo International Film Festival and the Golden Jubilee Award at the 50th Cairo Film Society Festival. He is also known for the Cannes-bound I PROMISE YOU PARADISE, which won him eight awards, and AISHA CAN’T FLY AWAY ANYMORE, which made it to the Final Cut in Venice this year.

Produced by Nourhan Yasser, the film is co-produced by Younes Medhat, Ahmed Elnaggar, Dina Shokry, and Hussain Hamadi, along with Mohammed Alomda, whose credits include Sudan’s first-ever submission to the Oscars YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY, the first Yemeni film in the Berlinale’s history THE BURDENED, and the Sudanese sensation GOODBYE JULIA, which has received over 50 awards to date.

With MAD World handling worldwide sales and MAD Distribution managing the film’s distribution, this 14-minute film promises viewers a heartbreaking journey filled with raw and natural performances and reflecting on how enduring the bond between mothers and sons can be, sending a universal message to honor those who have left but never truly departed from the hearts and minds of their loved ones.