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Cadence of the Valley

Dawood returns home with several misconceptions regarding his society after years of studying Architecture in Germany. Ever since he was a child, he learned to make and play the Ney, a classical Arabian instrument made from natural reed.

While collecting cane with his father in the Jordanian valley, he meets a mystic shepherdess who plays the Ney for her flock. After spending the day together, Dawood finds himself in confrontation with her in a dogmatic debate about a famous myth known in the area. It’s about an old abandoned house on the top of a mountain, believed to bring jinx and misfortune to however enters it. As soon as he discovers the truth behind the mysterious incident, in which two sheep were stolen and placed inside that house, Dawood loses the chance of seeing the shepherdess again. Getting back to playing his Ney once more, the cadence of the valley goes on, changing Dawood genuinely from the inside.

  • Rama Ayasra
    Director
  • Rama Ayasra
    Writer
  • Ibrahim Jacobi
    Producer
  • Rabee Zureikat
    Key Cast
    "Dawood"
  • Rawan Rabadi
    Key Cast
    "Shepherdess "
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    إيقاع الوادي
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Magical Realism, Drama, poetic, Art Film
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 22, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    14,809 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Jordan
  • Country of Filming:
    Jordan
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Rama Ayasra

22-year-old Jordanian filmmaker, studied Digital Filmmaking at SAE institute Amman (Bachelor Degree - Middlesex University London).
Previous work include: Writer/ Director of “Cadence of the Valley” short film funded by the JFF, Director & Producer of "Hikayat Al Cinema” TV program for Al Araby TV, Director of "Ja'afar the Cat" one-shot short film, Writer/ Director of "Nos Lera" short film, Director of "Crowded Sakeb" short documentary (Audience Prize: best documentary in Franco Arab Film Festival, official selection in five other film festivals), Assistant Producer in "Capucci” feature documentary for Al Jazeera Documentary, Writer/ Director/ Editor of “Full Frame" PSA, Assistant Director in “The Captain" short film, Director/ Editor of “Badi' al-Zaman al-Jazri" short film, Writer/ Director/ Producer/ Editor of "A2Z daycare” commercial, Producer of "Chivalry is Dead" music clip, Assistant Director in "Murder of Mr. Samer" short film, Writer/ Director of "Escape to Imagination" silent short film.

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Director Statement

This story isn’t merely an encounter between a Ney maker and a shepherd, who could’ve made a great match one day. It’s also a story about faith! All the prophets were shepherds, even Adam. This means that shepherding is the most ancient occupation ever known by man. Spending days alone in silence, with nature and sheep has something to do with wisdom, spiritual discipline, and pure mindfulness.
The herd itself is actually similar to the human nature, our inner selves. No matter how much we try to gather up the chaos inside us, it scatters. If you try to gather the herd of sheep from one side, it will spread from the other. In the story, only the voice of the Ney is able to gather the herd once again, the Ney represents faith. The Ney is the tool that takes us through Dawood’s transformational journey.
Also, the whole plot about the missing sheep in the jinxed house, how Dawood doubts their beliefs, although it was based on previous experiences, this shows us how faith works: it may seem unbelievable, but it’s true, in a way that we never knew before. It’s a multi-layered story about love, music, nature, and faith.