You Will Die at Twenty

Play trailer

You Will Die at Twenty

Released Jan 22, 2021

1h 43m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Winner of the Lion of the Future Award for best Debut Feature at the Venice Film Festival, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is visually sumptuous "coming-of-death" fable. During her son's naming ceremony, a Sheikh predicts that Sakina's child will die at the age of 20. Haunted by this prophecy, Sakina becomes overly protective of her son Muzamil, who grows up knowing about his fate. As Muzamil escapes Sakina's ever-watchful eye, he encounters friends, ideas and challenges that make him question his destiny. Sudan's first Oscar submission, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is an auspicious debut and a moving meditation on what it means to live in the present.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

A parable perched between fate and self-determination, You Will Die at Twenty is a striking debut for writer-director Amjad Abu Alala.

Read Critics Reviews

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Sudanese film-maker Amjad Abu Alala's radiant drama dares to wonder if death could inspire courage rather than fear.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 14, 2021

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Its quiet profundity strikes you hours, days after viewing.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 10, 2021

Full Review

Cath Clarke

Guardian

[A] gentle, affecting Sudanese drama...

Rated: 4/5

Nov 8, 2021

Full Review

Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

You Will Die at Twenty is a quietly stirring, hard-hitting look at a boy’s dour predicted fate, how that affects his life, and how such a prediction can do more damage than an actual early death itself.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 3, 2024

Full Review

Rob Aldam

Backseat Mafia

Spins an intelligent and affecting yarn in complex hues.

Nov 9, 2021

Full Review

Joseph Fahim

Middle East Eye

Abu Alala's ideas are quite elementary, explored at a surface-level and never wielded into something complex or thought-provoking.

Jul 2, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Saphia H

This movie summarises the impossible condition of youth, and extremely relevant to the lives of sudanese youth. This isn't a movie about being scared to die, but a movie about being scared to live. We are spending our whole lives in fear of dying because of all the instability, going to demonstrations, and by the time it's too late we will realise we forgot to live.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The movie is very well made and shows a side of Sudan and the location of the village of Al-Gezira is rarely seen by outsiders. It portrays the culture and way of life in the remote and isolated Sudanese villages. Beautifully captured panoramic scenes and an intriguing storyline that evokes mixed reactions depending on your beliefs, religious or otherwise.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Amjad Abu Alala

Director

Islam Mubarak

Sakina

Mustafa Shehata

Old Muzamil

Moatasem Rashed

Young Muzamil

Bonna Khalid

Old Naiema

Talal Afifi

Alnour

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Souad

89%

%

Souad

Watchlist

Sheikh Jackson

77%

77%

Sheikh Jackson

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Sheikh Jackson

Amira

20%

29%

Amira

Watchlist

Flight 404

%

%

Flight 404

Watchlist

Heroes Don't Die

29%

%

Heroes Don't Die

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Winner of the Lion of the Future Award for best Debut Feature at the Venice Film Festival, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is visually sumptuous "coming-of-death" fable. During her son's naming ceremony, a Sheikh predicts that Sakina's child will die at the age of 20. Haunted by this prophecy, Sakina becomes overly protective of her son Muzamil, who grows up knowing about his fate. As Muzamil escapes Sakina's ever-watchful eye, he encounters friends, ideas and challenges that make him question his destiny. Sudan's first Oscar submission, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is an auspicious debut and a moving meditation on what it means to live in the present.

Director: Amjad Abu Alala
Producer: Arnaud Dommerc, Michael Henrichs, Ingrid Lill Høgtun
Screenwriter: Amjad Abu Alala
Distributor: Film Movement
Production Co: Film-Clinic, Doha Film Institute, DUOfilm, Station Films, Transit Films, Canal+ International, Sunny Land Film, Andolfi, Die Gesellschaft DGS, CNC Aide aux cinémas du monde - Institut Français, Duo Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 25, 2021
Runtime: 1h 43m

Most Popular at Home Now