Spring Came on Laughing

Four interwoven tales emerge, revealing hidden struggles beneath moments of joy. As spring breaks through, peeling back layers of renewal and quiet rebirth.

Director:
Noha Adel

Genre:
Drama, Comedy

Year:
2024

Duration:
96 minutes

Rating:
PG

Country:
Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Language:
Arabic

Subtitling:
English, Sign Language

Screenplay: Noha Adel

Cast: Sally Abdo, Mokhtar Younis, Rehab Anan, Reem El Akkad, Carol Akkad, Mona El Nemrawi, Wessam Salah, Roka Yasser

Cinematography: Sara Yehia

Editing: Sara Abdallah

Production: Kawthar Younis - Ahmed Youssef

Awards: FIPRESCI Award -- Cairo International Film Festival -- Cairo, Egypt -- 2024 | Salah Abu Seif Award for Best Director -- Cairo International Film Festival -- Cairo, Egypt -- 2024 | Henry Barakat Award for Best Artistic Contribution -- Cairo International Film Festival -- Cairo, Egypt -- 2024

Début Status: Jordanian Première

Film Eligibility: Noha Adel is a first-time screenwriter and director

Synopsis

As spring approaches, celebrations shift into confrontations and laughter masks unspoken pain. Four intertwined tales from the heart of Egyptian womanhood unfold, where joy carries a shadow and the unexpected lies just beneath the surface. As blossoms fade and autumn arrives, each story reaches a surprising conclusion, revealing the quiet storms of identity, societal pressure, and the hidden truths that emerge when the season's bright façade begins to crack.

Director’s biography

Born in 1975, Noha Adel is a screenwriter and film director who graduated from Cairo University's English Department. With a background in Learning & Development, she pursued her passion for film by attending a three-month "Fundamentals of Directing" workshop in 2017. Her graduation project, the short film "Into Reverse," premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival. In 2020, she wrote and directed her second short film, "Once Upon A Time In the Café." Both films received acclaim, participating in various prestigious international and local film festivals and winning multiple awards.