A Place for Us

Amar, the youngest of three children and the only boy in his family, constantly struggles to define himself alongside his high-achieving and obedient older sisters, Hadia and Huda. His childhood difficulties manifest as emotional turmoil and low interest in and performance at school; to gain attention alongside his sisters, he cheats on spelling tests and pretends to be ill to get out of exams. In his teenage years, he is deeply affected by the loss of his friend Abbas Ali, who dies in a car accident, and his crush of several years, Amira Ali, who breaks up with him due to family pressure. His sense of never fitting in at home, especially compared to his sisters and considering his father’s disapproval, is especially melancholy given that his mother Layla has always been especially tender to and supportive of him. Returning home for Hadia’s wedding after years of estrangement is difficult for Amar, and it does not result in the healing his mother and sisters hoped for. It is only on Rafiq’s deathbed that Amar realizes the depth of his father’s love for him as well as his regret over not being more outwardly supportive.