Like Desert Roses in a Sandstorm (2015-movie)

***Like Desert Roses in a Sandsorm***, known in Kyrenaia as ***Warda Teasifa*** (Roses in the Storm), is an action-thriller movie from 2015, starring, among others, Amina Qaebukin, Karim Danni and Okan Fahnnan, as well as music by both Halu and Razia Wasima.

Appearances by Prince Okan ibn-Dardan and his personal handmaiden Alya Mumrada in minor roles round the movie off.

## Plot

Fara Aleunab (Amina Qaebukin) is a member of the Tabardariyya, part of the protective detail of Prince Okan ibn-Dardan during his studies of Ihmiset Mural Art in Peeoma, guarding him against possible attacks - while nothing is known to be planned, one never knows and one should always be careful, as the more experienced Handmaiden Alya Mumrada points out.

During one trip to a specifically interesting mural, Fara sees a suspect in the crowd, but nothing happens - the Opening credits roll over a mural depicting the Ihmiset-story *The Legend of Hisi*, a story of redemption. After the Prince has finished his observations, he decides to head back to the palace and, accompanied by the security detail. Fara again sees the person in the crowd, but this time, the person approaches the group. As the person reaches into his jacket, takes in air to speak, Fara reacts: Seeing him as a possible danger, she shoots the man, mayhem breaks out. In the investigation following, it is revealed, that the man was unarmed and wanted, most likely, an autograph from the Prince.

Having misjudged the intentions and killed a man, Fara is disgraced and ostracised from the Tabardariyya. A judge classifies the case as justifiable homicide (a mysterious donor bought a lawyer for Fara) and acquits her. Her career, however, is over and she works odd jobs to get through.

Dardan Awghad (Okan Fahnnan) is the brother of the man killed by Fara, an artist like the brother. He takes up painting murals as a job, hiding Republican and Democratic Messages in his works, soon being approached by more radical elements of the Democratic Movement led by Abiza (Karim Danni): To avenge his brother, he is to create a masterwork, which catches the attention of Prince Okan, they would then do the rest.

It takes a while, but Dardan creates a masterwork, which he dubs *The End of the Sixth House*, depicting the last stand of the Akhas House of the Tabardariyya. It soon attracts the attention of Prince Okan, who comes to see the mural in person with a small security detail. Unaware of the connection between Abiza and Dardan, the security detail is only small. Upon meeting each other, however, Okan greets Dardan respectfully and expresses his heartfelt condolences for what has happened to Dardan's Brother.

The artist smiles and thanks the Prince - then proceeds to take him hostage, as Abiza wanted. The Handmaidens are quickly overwhelmed by the terrorists, the building cut off from the outside world and the Handmaidens and Okan are taken hostage. There, Abiza shows his true colours: The Democratic Movement for him was only a cover and all he wants is the access data of Prince Okan to his private wealth, in particular to his bank accounts. The Prince is silent.

While that goes on, Fara, who had worked as a cleaning lady in the building, while the Police begins a siege, only made more complicated by the fact, that a Prince is in the building. The Army arrives, ready to take over due to the involvement of Royalty, Abiza allows the remaining building to be evacuated - but among the fleeing people, some of his men sneak away to do his bidding.

Fara, meanwhile, does not flee. She hides, manages to overwhelm one of the terrorists and steal his weapon, a KGS-27 Automatic Shotgun. She takes out two other men with the weapon, then finds herself in an intense firefight against three terrorists. Being shot in the gut, she manages to overwhelm two but is in turn overwhelmed the last. Bleeding profusely, she is brought before Abiza, Prince Okan and Dardan.

Abiza wants to make an example out of her, but Dardan opposes, only to be shot by Abiza. As the artist sinks to the ground, Fara gets up and storms at him, nearly overwhelming the man, while his remaining terrorists are overwhelmed by the Handmaidens (even Prince Okan gets to do something by kicking one of the men in the poplit as he fights Alya). A few shots ring out, Fara and Abiza stumbling apart.

The man, his gun still in hand, looks down at himself, as his shirts turns crimson from a gut shot. He then looks up, the Handmaidens having captured his men's weapons, using them to gun him down. Okan moves over to Fara's side, who is, by that point only asking if he is alright. He confirms. Fara dies, having saved the Prince and redeemed herself in the eyes of her peers, smiling slightly as she passes.

At the memorial service, Prince Okan calls Fara and all other dead of the night "Desert Roses in a Sandstorm", a beautiful life cut short by being shamed, ostracised and the will and need to redeem oneself.

## Cast and Crew

* Amina Qaebukin as Fara Aleunab.
* Karim Danni as Abiza.
* Okan Fahnnan as Dardan Awghad.
* Prince Okan ibn-Dardan as Prince Okan ibn-Dardan.
* Alya Mumrada as Alya Mumrada.

## Production

Although he appears on screen quite frequently for a minor role, Prince Okan was only available for four days of shooting with an additional one in Jalid. The mural, depicting *The Legend of Hisi*, was a recommendation to him, and from him to the director, by Beyeha Okka Melko. All of his Handmaidens and security detail, with the exception of Fara Aleunab, were played by real Handmaidens and Tabardariyya of the Akhur-House.

The mural *The End of the Sixth House* exists as well, created by Amir Alfalhath (who has a cameo himself) for the movie. The team was careful not to damage the work, as it is now on exhibit in Calpe, where most of the movie was shot.

## Release

The movie has been cited by international critics, first and foremost Professor Gerulf Bukker as a prime example of the narrative devices of Modern Kyrenaian Cinema and its cultural style (especially in regards to the comment of Kyrenaian Society being a Shame-Society in regards to the Guilt-Shame-Fear Spectrum).

Related to the release of the movie, a four part documentary about the Tabardariyya, a look behind the scenes of the Guardians of the Sultana and the Ilkhans, was made. Narrator and moderator were both Amina Qaebukin and Okan Fahnnan, guests included, but were not limited to Nuri Sayalmub and Aynur, Ilkhana of Megido.