“The most personal is the most creative.” Academy Award winner Bong Joon Ho cited the great Martin Scorsese in his acceptance speech. It’s a sentiment that perhaps many modern films, even within the indie scene, neglect in favor of blockbuster aspirations. KUM-KUM, a short by budding Saudi filmmaker Dur Jamjoom finds the young director drawing from her past in trying to grapple with the death of a loved one. The film is slated for an appearance at Tribeca Film Festival 2024.
Duna (Nada Basaad), a 17-year-old teen, is having the time of her life near the beachfront with her friend (Dana Al Kadhi). What seems to be a routine kayaking trip quickly turns into a waking nightmare when there is a tragic accident. As the families try to cope, Duna seems stuck in a vicious cycle of fear and pain. She becomes withdrawn, fearing the water she once enjoyed spending time in. Time goes by as Duna’s trauma reemerges when she must coach her sister Aliya through swimming lessons at the waterfront, still burdened with insecurities.
There’s an ominous beauty that defines KUM-KUM from its very first frame. It’s gripping, but never in an obvious way. Details abound, from the girls playing with little seashells to the tight closeups of treacherous-looking waters. Jamjoom and Director of Photography Rabih Felfy make the most of the coastal setting, even sneaking it into the background of a particularly powerful prayer scene. The film is also almost completely void of music, a creative choice that works in favor of establishing a foreboding, naturalistic tone.
Jamjoom’s emphasis on Duna’s inner turmoil feels both intimate and painful—experiences the director draws from her childhood. This only serves to further Duna’s gradual recovery process and test her character. The story is constantly asking her questions, whether she’ll fall apart in front of her community or shy away from setting foot in the ocean ever again. Basaad gives a nuanced performance in the lead, more than up to the task of illustrating Duna’s personal conflict with herself.
KUM-KUM is a stunning addition to Tribeca’s stellar lineup of shorts. It offers a moving, contemplative story of both grief and hope, all while hailing writer/director Dur Jamjoon as a promising talent to look out for.
