Experiencing Interruptions?

Paper Kite طيارة ورق

In a sixth grade classroom, Noor sees a kite outside the school walls and sketches it, ignoring the lesson. Sister Caroline, the teacher, punishes Noor. Zayn, a new student walks in and joins the tense classroom.

With only both of them in the classroom during the break, Noor writes her punishment on the school board, while Zayn, bored, looks through Noor's notebook, which is filled with kite sketches. Zayn draws kite on the board. Noor sketches it with her.

Both girls go to the courtyard where they set a plan to make the kite. First, they sneak into Sister Caroline's office to steal her keys to the art room, which has the materials they need. They then get into the art room and nearly finish the kite before Sister Caroline walks in. Sacrificing herself, Zayn pushes Noor behind the cupboard. The nun breaks the kite and sends Zayn to the detention room.

In detention, three nuns watch Zayn as she holds the Book of Rules with locked arms. Noor calls Zayn outside the window. Zayn looks over. Noor holds a patched up kite; the same kite they made together.

  • Nada Bedair
    Director
  • Nada Bedair
    Writer
  • Sahar ElKabbash
    Producer
  • Md Razi Al Islam
    Producer
  • Dana Al Refai
    Key Cast
    "Zayn"
  • Noor Emara
    Key Cast
    "Noor"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 10, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    6,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Egypt
  • Country of Filming:
    Qatar
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Nada Bedair

Nada Bedairis a senior at Northwestern University in Qatar, where she majors in Media Industries and Technology and minors in Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Bedair is passionate about social justice, particularly women’s empowerment. She aspires to empower women through her work as a filmmaker in documentary and fiction. One of her notable works is her documentary ‘Treasures of the Past’, which was featured at Muscat International Film Festival and won best documentary in Ajyal film festival. It showcases three powerful old women defying gender and social stereotypes in their own communities.

A similar theme is cored in her current project Paper Plane, which features a woman-of-color only cast. After graduation, Bedair aspires to create other projects which challenge social norms concerning gender, race, and sexuality.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Experiencing the Egyptian Revolution as a young woman was certainly an altering experience. Viewing people getting killed or imprisoned for only voicing their opinions, truly showcased
the injustices that oppressive political regimes are capable of.

This story is about the pursuit of the sense of freedom which comes from rebelling against authority. The strict Catholic school, where the film is set and where I grew up for 14 years, showcases any repressive environment or regime. The kite that the two protagonists are on a mission to create, is a visualization of
rebellious freedom. My observations about my community are that even those who do not agree with the discriminations of the system, still remain silent out of fear. However, it takes a number to rebel, to spark change, to fly a kite. Noor only dreamt about making the kite, but she never pursued it until Zayn questioned the rules with her. The purpose of this film is to ask the audience who they want to be in a society. Do they want to blindly follow the rules set by authority or do they want to challenge them?