Content from Studio Ragheb

A couple’s wedding day and an Amtrak train route are intertwined in this personal exploration of marriage and contemporary America. An enormous story – a train journey, a wedding and a tragedy – all in two minutes. A remarkable example of cinematic economy of means, the film’s brevity does not deter from its impact. Based on true events.

An Egyptian living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reflects on his new surroundings through a series of images and observations. The resulting montage is a poignant cinematic postcard that explores the contradictory nature of the immigrant experience: at once lonely, frightening, and exhilarating.

Ahmed (Ahmed T. Ragheb), an Egyptian-American aspiring actor, anxiously awaiting news of his latest film audition, gives in to his superstitions and sets off on a journey across Pittsburgh, trying to force the hands of fate. Lily (Grace Cooper), a photography student, meanwhile, criss-crosses the city unseen on a journey of her own, photographing and recalling scenes from her past.

When Aziza finally shares a recurring dream, it’s what she leaves unsaid that reveals her fractured sense of self. Aziza’s dream – in which she must sing a song – takes her on a journey through the post-industrial hills of the American Rust Belt, the eternal fields of Egypt, and the most repressed parts of her mind.