Veteran director Mohammad Malas tackles the rise of conservatism and religiosity with great dexterity in this beautifully lensed film. Passions follows Iman, an ordinary housewife, happily married and raising two kids of her own as well as the daughter of a brother imprisoned for political activism. Iman’s greatest passion is listening to the songs of the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kalthoum—a passion mistaken by her brother-in-law for a love affair with another man. Inspired by a newspaper clipping, Malas’ film gracefully deals with themes of music, censorship and intolerance in Syrian society.

Director, Screenwriter: Ahmed Baha Eddine Attia
Producer, Screenwriter: Fabienne Servan-Schreiber
Producer: Marcel Khalife
Composer: Tarek Ben Abdallah
Cinematographer: Intissar Safia
Executive Producer: Jean-Pierre Feyer
Executive Producer: Kahena Attia
Editor: Chamel Amiralaya
First Assistant Director: Catherine Chamoray
Sound/Sound Designer: Moshen Frigi
Cast: Salwa Jamil, Naceur Ouerdiani, Oussama Sayed Youssef, Mahmoud Harned, Houda Rokbi, Yara Chakra, Kamel Jaber, Mohammad Malas