Jordanian Director Zain Duraie Challenges Arab Cinema's Norms with Mental Health Drama 'Sink,' an Oscar Contender

Jordanian filmmaker Zain Duraie is pushing the boundaries of Arab cinema, aiming to break the long-standing silence surrounding mental health issues. She observes that regional cinema has often focused on familiar themes like war, poverty, and political upheaval, neglecting more personal struggles. With her debut feature, 'Sink,' Duraie tackles the pervasive stigma associated with mental health in Arab societies.

"I felt like nobody has spoken about the stigma of mental health, especially in Jordan and the Arab world," Duraie stated in an interview with The National. "It's still heavily stigmatised." 'Sink,' selected as Jordan's submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards, centers on Nadia (Clara Khoury), a mother grappling with her teenage son Basil's (Mohammad Nizar) declining mental health. The narrative draws from Duraie's personal experiences and observations of families hesitant to seek help due to fear or shame.

"I see mothers locked behind doors and not reaching out for help," she shared, noting the difficulties in accessing appropriate support in Jordan. Duraie was particularly drawn to exploring denial and Nadia's gradual immersion in her son's psychological distress. She also pointed out that international funding often favors narratives of hardship and conflict, making it challenging to finance more intimate subjects.

"I felt, you know, I'm going to take this risk because at least I'm making something honest," Duraie explained. She challenges the notion that family dramas lack broader social significance, questioning, "Who says intimate family dramas can't be political?"

Duraie dedicated three years to preparing lead actor Mohammad Nizar for his role, drawing from her education at the Toronto Film School and prior experience in production management and casting. Her previous short films, 'Horizon' and 'Give Up the Ghost' (which screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2019), helped pave the way for her first feature, developed through initiatives like the Red Sea Lodge in Saudi Arabia.

'Sink' employs subtle techniques, including restrained dialogue, deliberate pacing, and framing, to mirror Nadia's psychological state. The film's aspect ratio shifts from a narrow 4:3 at the beginning to 2:1 at a crucial mother-son moment, symbolizing Nadia's dawning recognition of her son's reality. "Because for me this is the moment of catharsis," Duraie said. "This is the moment of where she sees him." However, the frame never fully expands, suggesting that while Nadia begins to confront the truth, her situation remains challenging.

Duraie intentionally kept Clara Khoury unaware of the specific illness to authentically portray Nadia's uncertainty and denial. Much of the film's emotional impact relies on Khoury's nuanced performance, conveying distress through silences, gestures, and facial expressions rather than overt displays of anguish. Duraie worked to establish Nadia's internal logic, acknowledging that "Mothers make mistakes. Parents are flawed."

In contrast to Khoury, Nizar received extensive preparation, including exposure to literature on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and relevant films. He was initially not given the full screenplay, receiving scene-by-scene information as Duraie wrote. Neither actor auditioned; they were cast after conversations, and both contributed to rehearsals, leading to collaborative scene rewrites. This approach helped create distinct perspectives for Basil, experiencing a mental health crisis, and Nadia, struggling to comprehend it.

While mental health is central, Duraie aimed for an emotional resonance rather than a didactic message. The film has deeply impacted families, with some parents re-evaluating their relationships with their children. Individuals with serious mental health conditions have also expressed gratitude for the film's humanizing portrayal of Basil.

Jordan's selection of 'Sink' for the Academy Awards provides a significant platform for international exposure. Duraie and her team are actively seeking support for their awards campaign. "It is a national prestige, and it is a great step for the film and for me personally," she commented.

Looking ahead, Duraie is developing a new film, focusing on a female character's backstory. She encourages emerging Arab filmmakers to prioritize originality and personal connection over the pressure to conform to festival expectations. "If we write with the state of mind of festivals, we will never make it," she asserted, urging them to question their motivations and unique perspectives.