Mother of Schools

At Jordan’s first secondary school, students navigate a generational conflict between tradition and digital change during a year marked by regional upheaval.

Director:
Abdallah Essa

Genre:
Documentary

Year:
2025

Duration:
63 minutes

Rating:
13+

Country:
Jordan

Language:
Arabic

Subtitling:
English

Cinematography: Laith Yaghmour

Editing: Eyad Hamamm

Production: RFC, Golden Frame, Silwan Production house

Début Status: World Première

Synopsis

At Salt’s historic boys’ school, five teens begin their final year as war intensifies in Gaza. Caught between the familiarity of tradition and the pull of digital transformation, they come of age amid rising tensions and a shifting sense of stability. As the outside world seeps into their everyday lives, they search for connection, identity, and hope in a time when growing up feels both accelerated and uncertain.

Director’s biography

Abdallah Essa is a filmmaker based in Amman, Jordan, with a strong background in independent and commercial film. He graduated from Al-Ahliyya Amman University in 2017 with a degree in Cinema, TV, and Theatre Design. His short films, including Pain (2015), Nos Raha (2016), and 308 (2017), gained recognition for their emotional depth. Abdallah has also directed and edited numerous commercials with a cinematic touch. In 2023, he directed his first feature documentary, Mother of Schools, exploring the impact of education in Jordan with a focus on culture, change, and resilience.