‘Aisha Can't Fly Away' Review: Buliana Simon Stuns in Morad Mostafa's Intriguing if Uneven Immigrant Tale

In Morad Mostafa's austere and captivating feature debut 'Aisha Can't Fly Away,' the title says it all. An absorbing and at times, puzzling blend of genres ranging from drama to body horror tells the story of an African immigrant who both craves something more and deserves a lot better than the hand she's been dealt. But like a caged bird, she can't escape her cruel and imprisoning circumstances.
Played by a terrific Buliana Simon in a precise performance of stoic poise, Aisha is a 26-year-old Sudanese caregiver, tending to the needs of the elderly, helping with their medication and keeping up their apartments. Residing as an immigrant in the bustling city of Cairo, in the tough neighborhood of Ain Shams (where Mostafa has spent his childhood and teenage years, and therefore captures with an insider's lens), she is often observing and narrowly surviving the disorder and violence that erupt in the streets. Her only chance for safety is to cut a dirty deal with the hard-nosed gang leader Zuka (rapper Ziad Zaza). Early on, we watch Aisha as she leaves the apartment she works at for the day, after she makes a copy of the house key to later pass onto Zuka. This is a regular arrangement between the two: Aisha would steal house keys, and Zuka would provide her protection in return.
More from Variety
'Resurrection' Review: Bi Gan's Extravagant Act of Surrender to the Seductions of a Century of Cinema
'The Party's Over' Review: South of France-Set Satire Follows an Escalating Class Conflict
Cannes Directors' Fortnight: 'The President's Cake,' Iraq's First Film at the Festival, Wins People's Choice Audience Award
As in the film 'Promised Sky' (which premiered alongside 'Aisha' in Un Certain Regard at Cannes), Mostafa's film focuses on an African woman alienated and left without options on her own continent. Frustrated and often exhausted, she spends her days and nights in a near-autopilot mode, doing what's expected of her and barely getting by, only to find her job in jeopardy after one of the clients whose key she's duplicated gets brutally attacked by Zuka's people during their robbery. The employment agency will only allow her to keep her position if she agrees to switch houses and become the caregiver of the slimy and predatory Mr. Khalil (Mamdouh Saleh). When Aisha refuses his sexual demands and asks to be transferred, her employer just dismisses her plea (despite hers not being the first complaint about him). She must accept his sexual abuse as part of her nursing duties, or else look for a different job. Heartbreakingly, she complies.
When a strange rash develops on Aisha's body, the film gradually adds confusing body horror elements to its tapestry. A dash of surreal symbolism is also in the mix with Aisha occasionally running into an intimidating (sometimes violent) ostrich in the streets and houses where she works. The bird, with its menacing stance, is surely a figment of Aisha's imagination. It's not quite clear what these fantasy sequences are supposed to symbolize: Could it be Aisha's own growing internal strength as a bird, as teased in the title? Realized with impressive makeup work and effects, the bumpy and worsening rash around her torso suggests that she might be morphing into something akin to an ostrich. While these elongated sequences prove effective, they come across as a tortured and distracting metaphor — the real-world horrors of Aisha's situation speak clearly enough for themselves.
Despite his iffy handle on mixing tones and genres, Mostafa nevertheless steers the layered and chaotic world of 'Aisha Can't Fly Away' with a painterly lens, thankfully avoiding a sense of visual romanticization in the midst of her lead's dire circumstances. Crowded sidewalks, dusty roads and a densely populated city spread out in the background, while cinematographer Mostaga El Kashef stays close to Aisha's face, underscoring her silent perceptiveness. In her thoughtful portrayal of a young woman with no good prospects, Simon articulates Aisha's resolute headspace distinctly, commanding the screen with her sharp, uncompromising gaze. The gifted actor consistently deepens and intensifies the atmosphere of 'Aisha Can't Fly Away,' infusing it with a haunting and dangerous quality.
At times, the film leans into needless miserabilism, but Mostafa fortunately gives Aisha (and the audience) some breathing room, reminding us the small pockets of peace in her world through some underdeveloped but very welcome side characters. One of them is a chef (Emad Ghoniem) who often feeds Aisha with a generous plate of food. The other is a friend (Maya Mohamed) who is a reliable part of Aisha's tiny circle of support. The film is at its strongest when intimately keeping its lens on Aisha's tangible struggles, while organically contextualizing the modest instances of goodness in her life in contrast with the dire political backdrop of the region. On the whole, Mostafa delivers a worthwhile and intriguing character study, with disquietingly memorable images that startle even when they occasionally overpower the human drama at the film's center.
Best of Variety
The Best Albums of the Decade

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Gizmodo

an hour ago

• Gizmodo

‘Elio' Gave Pixar Its Worst Box Office Opening Ever

Elio may have garnered some very solid reviews–low for Pixar considering its back catalogue, but still very solid–but that apparently wasn't enough to save it from setting a pretty grim record. The movie is now currently Pixar's worst-performing opening weekend, but while there is still plenty of time for things to change, what it might say about the future of the studio's output isn't so optimistic. Variety reports that Elio ranked third at the Box Office this weekend behind the still-continued success of the How to Train Your Dragon remake and the launch of 28 Years Later, racking up $21 million. The total came under the roughly $25-30 million that had been anticipated for opening weekend, and the film didn't do much better internationally, bringing Elio to a $35 million global taking so far. There are perhaps multiple factors that can be blamed. Pixar is arguably in some ways still feeling the impact of the pandemic shuttling several of its original films straight to streaming, leading to families anticipating the film coming home sooner rather than later. There's also Disney's marketing of the film, which had been almost non-existent before ramping up in the wake of positive reviews–and even when it did exist, it aimed for vague sci-fi adventure vibes, rather than the compelling emotional story at the heart of the film (and the heart of much of it's critical praise). It's not necessarily all doom and gloom for Elio just yet. The prior holder of the infamous record for worst opening weekend at the studio was Elemental, which faced similar marketing and scheduling challenges when it launched just to the tune of $29.6 million in 2023. However, incredible word of mouth turned things around for Elemental, leading to it closing out its box office run with $155 million domestically, and $496 million globally. Given the similarity of circumstances here, there's every chance that Elio could find a way to a happy ending in theaters. Perhaps even if it did, it's still far from reaching the highs that people (and Disney) expect of Pixar releases at this point. Not every Pixar release post-pandemic has suffered a similar fate: Inside Out 2 broke records last year to rake in over a billion dollars. But that success perhaps more keenly reflects an ongoing broader trend in the industry: kids films are making a comeback after COVID sent them to streaming platforms, but the ones that are leading that comeback aren't original animation any more, but sequels or live-action remakes of familiar brands, from Lilo & Stitch to the aforementioned How to Train Your Dragon. Of the five confirmed films in its slate for the next few years, just two of Pixar's upcoming projects are based on original ideas, Hoppers, due out next year, and the recently announced Gatto, set for 2027. They're sandwiched between heavy hitter sequels in the form of Toy Story 5, Incredibles 3, and Coco 2. Time will tell, just as it will with Elio's fate at the box office, if this rough news now is just signs of an increasingly dire trend. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Cosmopolitan

3 hours ago

• Cosmopolitan

Peyton and Cane Spoilers The Waterfront Season 2

A new addictive Netflix show just landed in our laps for summer. And by "summer" I mean literally one day because that's all it takes to binge the entire thing. Welcome to The Waterfront, which is basically Yellowstone meets Outer Banks. The show follows a wealthy family trying to manage their floundering (heh) fishing business and casual drug ring, and every episode is packed with action and drama. But we're specifically here to discuss Cane and Peyton, because their vibe in the season finale was weird to say the least. Quick recap: Cane cheats on Peyton with his high school sweetheart Jenna, she finds out, and—after confronting and immediately forgiving Jenna—tells Cane in the most ominous way possible, "Everything's fine. You and me. We're fine. I'm gonna see to it." Like, not exactly a normal way to react to your husband's announcement that he's cheated on you and is dealing heroin. So, what comes next? Series creator Kevin Williamson tells Variety that Peyton could become one to watch next season: "I think Peyton is a power player," he said. "She knows what she wants, and she's going to get it. She had that moment where she could run, she could leave, and she almost does. But I think she has a better plan. She loves this man, and they say you can't change someone. Well, we're gonna watch her do it." Cannot! Wait!

Business Wire

4 hours ago

• Business Wire

Mercy Ships Partners with Angel Studios for Exclusive Launch of Award-Winning Reality Series "THE MERCY SHIPS"

GARDEN VALLEY, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercy Ships, the global nonprofit organization delivering healthcare to low- and middle-income countries via hospital ships, announces that the award-winning reality series The Mercy Ships premiered on June 18, exclusively on and the Angel apps. The series chronicles the mission of the world's largest civilian-run hospital ships as they deliver free surgeries and healthcare services to coastal African communities. The first three episodes will stream free of charge and feature volunteers from throughout the United States. "We are thrilled to partner with Angel Studios to share the powerful stories of transformation happening aboard our hospital ships," said Caleb Read, VP of Advancement at Mercy Ships 'Our mission is made possible through thousands of volunteers including medical professionals, bakers, mechanics, videographers and many others who give their time and talents. This series captures the heart of our volunteers—their passion, dedication, and the life-changing impact they make every day serving those who need it most.' "In a world where 16.9 million lives are lost each year from lack of access to surgical care, Mercy Ships is a lifeline," said Jared Geesey, Chief Distribution Officer at Angel. "The stories of both the volunteers and the patients they serve resonated with the Angel Guild in a deep way." View the trailer HERE With the pilot episode winning the Silver Telly Award in the General Reality Category, The Mercy Ships takes viewers behind the scenes of the mission to provide life-changing surgeries and medical care where access to healthcare is often limited. Viewers globally will meet the international volunteer professionals aboard the Africa Mercy ® and Global Mercy ® —doctors, nurses, technicians, teachers, chefs, and everyday heroes—who dedicate their lives to bringing hope and healing where it's needed most. This immersive series reveals what it's truly like to live and work aboard the state-of-the-art floating hospitals. Through tears, trials, setbacks, and triumphs, The Mercy Ships showcases the power of mercy in action—from critical surgeries to moments of quiet courage and unexpected joy. With a volunteer crew spanning the globe, Mercy Ships is transforming lives—not just of patients, but of everyone on board. This series is a celebration of human resilience, love, and the belief that no one should suffer or die simply because of where they were born. Volunteers from the United States who are featured in the series include: Bambi Hawkins (Executive Assistant-Williamsport, PA) Morgan Georgioff (Galley Staff Lead-Seaside, OR) Joli Chou (Maxillofacial Surgeon- Philadelphia, PA) George Beinetti (Carpenter- Syracuse, NY) Abigail Beinetti (Videographer- Syracuse, NY) Orianna Parunak (Physical therapist- Virginia Beach, VA) Jenny Roland (OR Manager- Waynesville, NC) John Roland (Hospital Photographer- Waynesville, NC) Hannah Beckler (Media Liaison- Pasadena, CA) Claire Burdick (Creative Coordinator- Costa Mesa, CA) Connor Rogers (Carpenter- Corbett, OR) LeAnne Ferrell (Transportation Manager- Dana Point, CA) Ryan Moore (Chaplain- Clarkston, MI) Kara Moore (Primary Caregiver- Clarkston, MI) Mike Kirchner (Social Studies Teacher- Sugarland, TX) Caroline Kirchner (Hospitality services- Sugarland, TX) To learn more about the series, visit About Mercy Ships Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteers from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit and follow @MercyShips on social media. About Angel Angel is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, over 1,200,000 paying members from more than 170 different countries help decide what film and television projects the studio will market and distribute, and support the filmmakers who create films and series that amplify light. Learn more at