A young Mauritanian woman wakes up to the misogyny of her society’s beauty standards in this emotionally rich debut feature from Michela Occhipinti. 

Verida (Verida Beitta Ahmed Deiche) is preparing for her arranged marriage by gaining weight – a symbol of beauty and wealth in her West African nation. Although she doesn’t question this tradition, it’s achieved via gavage, or being force-fed up to 10 meals a day by her mother. But when the man who brings the scales that measure her progress shows an unexpected interest in Verida, it offers the possibility of something more.

Using non-professional actors, Occhipinti takes an understated approach to the controls exerted on Mauritanian women’s bodies – so different to those experienced in the west, but no less physically or psychologically devastating. Deiche draws on her own experience; her naturalness on screen builds into something more forceful as Verida’s eyes open in this gentle story of female empowerment.

“Assured, sensitively handled ... offers a fresh perspective on body image and self-worth.” – Screen International