‘The Sand Castle’ is a 2024 Arabic fantasy thriller film directed by Matty Brown. The film deeply touches a very sensitive subject—the mental state of children fleeing war-torn areas and their world of imagination. The story follows a family—Yasmin, Nabeel and their two children Adam and Jana—who take refuge on a deserted island after an unknown disaster. They try to survive with their limited resources while living in an abandoned lighthouse. The film slowly unravels the layers of mystery and eventually takes a shocking twist when it is revealed that the entire island and lighthouse story is actually a figment of the imagination of Jana, who is traveling alone in a lifeboat, fleeing her war-torn country. The film is not just an imaginative story but also a profound commentary on the mental complexities of children, their coping strategies with trauma, and the horrific realities of war. ‘The Sand Castle’ is a cinematic experience that shakes the audience to the core and forces them to think.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Sand Castle |
| Original Title | من وراء الموج (Arabic) |
| Release Year | 2024 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Thriller, Drama |
| Language | Arabic |
| Runtime | 98 minutes |
| Countries of Origin | Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, United States |
| Directed by | Matty Brown |
| Written by | Hend Fakhroo, Matty Brown, Yassmina Karajah |
| Produced by | Gianluca Chakra, Mandy Ward, Houston King, Mario Haddad Jr. |
| Starring | Nadine Labaki (Yasmine), Ziad Bakri (Nabil), Zain Al Rafeea (Adam), Riman Al Rafeea (Jana) |
| Cinematography | Jeremy Snell |
| Music by | Kat Vokes, West Dylan Thordson |
| Production Company | Front Row Filmed Entertainment |
| Distributor | Netflix |
| Premiere Date | December 8, 2024 (Red Sea International Film Festival) |
| Netflix Release | January 24, 2025 |
The Sand Castle Story
The Sand Castle is an emotional and imaginative Arabic film that shows the tragedy of war and migration through the eyes of children. The story revolves around Yasmine, Nabil and their two children Adam and Jana, who flee their country after an unknown disaster and end up on a deserted island. They take refuge in an abandoned lighthouse and try to survive on limited rations.
As time goes on, Adam becomes stressed and frustrated and begins to argue, while younger daughter Jana becomes lost in her fantasy. Their world turns even more terrifying when a body bag is found on the shore and news of drowning migrants comes on the radio.
But the real twist in the film comes when it is revealed that the island, the lighthouse, and the entire family are all just a figment of Jana’s imagination. In reality, she is alone in a rescue boat and fleeing a war-torn country.
The film shows the audience how children use imagination to try to save their sanity in horrific situations.
The film ends with a deep message—the innocence and power of imagination of childhood serves as a ray of hope, no matter how dire the circumstances.
Trailer
Review
The Sand Castle (2024) is a film that has the power to touch the hearts of the audience. For some viewers, it is a very impressive and sensitive work, while for others it turns out to be a depressing experience.
In the first review, a viewer has described this film as “excellent”. He says that this film awakens the sense of humanity, love of life and compassion for others. In today’s time when the power of weapons dominates the world and the killing of innocent people has become common, as can be seen in the situation in Palestine, films like The Sand Castle give an essential human message. The reviewer says that this film touches the heart and reminds us that compassion, goodness and coexistence still matter in the world. According to him, in today’s time giving bread to someone is less important, but selling bombs is considered more profitable. This film raises a deep question about this irony.
On the other hand, another viewer has a completely opposite point of view. This critic named Sunill Kumar did not like the film at all. According to him, the screenplay of the film is very weak, the dialogues seem unnatural and forced. He believes that the script has either been written in a hurry or lacks dedication.
He further says that the direction of the film is very disorienting. Jumping from one scene to another, without any logical or emotional connection, creates confusion for the audience. It seems that the director has lost direction in trying to do something “different”. In his opinion, the film collapses under the burden of its ambition and as a result, delivers a weak cinematic experience.
Finally, the reviewer also warns that if you decide to watch this film, it is possible that you will regret ignoring this review.
Conclusion
The Sand Castle is a sensitive and thought-provoking film that tackles deep themes such as war, migration and childhood trauma in a highly artistic way. For some viewers, it is a symbol of the power of human compassion and imagination, while for others, it is a disorganized and cumbersome cinematic experience. The film’s greatest strength is its emotional depth and psychological portrayal of the characters. Though its slow pace and inconsistent scene composition may not appeal to everyone, the film is definitely thought-provoking and leaves a deep impression on the audience.