Xagal (Angle)

Xagal (Angle) is a super 8 film that visualizes the transformations of an eldest daughter through the lens of a Somali-American raised by eldest daughters of eldest daughters. The film invites audience into an intimate space and nostalgia starting with a Somali lullaby sung by my hooyo (mother), me and my sister Najla. We laugh as hooyo hasn't sung this to us in a long time and we sing together with a paper in front of us with lyrics written by hooyo in Somali as we all forgot and try to remember our childhood tune. The transformation of childhood to adulthood is visualized in three characters: yellow, blue and red. Yellow is the child, full of hope, the past. Blue is vulnerable and honest, the present and Red is the mother, the future. With an honest conversation with hooyo and hints of dhaqan (culture) and buranbuur (somali poem) tape archive from my ayeeyo (grandmother) and childhood videos, this film seeks to understand and questions, why did we grow up so fast?

  • Wasima Farah
    Director
  • Wasima Farah
    Writer
  • Wasima Farah
    Producer
  • Wasima Farah
    Directors of Photography
  • Najla Farah
    Directors of Photography
  • Wasima Farah
    Cinematographers
  • Najla Farah
    Cinematographers
  • Najla Farah
    Key Cast
    "Yellow 1"
  • Wasima Farah
    Key Cast
    "Yellow 2"
  • Nura Farah
    Key Cast
    "Red 1"
  • Wasima Farah
    Key Cast
    "Red 2"
  • Halima Adam
    Key Cast
    "Blue"
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 29, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    150 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Somali
  • Shooting Format:
    Super 8mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:41:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Wasima Farah

Wasima Farah is a Somali-American Visual Artist based in Minneapolis, Minnesota with 6+ years of experience working with brands and organizations such as Target, Red Bull Music, Pollen Midwest, Tabloid Art History, Augsburg University and University of Minnesota. She is a Graphic Designer and Creative Strategist at Soomaal House of Art and Creative Director of The Digital Sisterhood.

She is also an Actress based in the Twin Cities with experience in short films, commercials, theater and more.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My work delves into the experiences of being a 20-something Somali-American, Black, Muslim, Woman and eldest daughter of immigrant parents. My art and films seek to process and understand life through the lens of these combined identities and more to come. Through different mediums of art, I explore themes of womanhood, and mother/daughter relationships to create spaces of healing, genuine relatability, and conversation around stigmas in our communities in hopes of creating a positive change within and around us.