Nadia Fall’s BRIDES

londonbeautifullife
Sep 28
3 min read

BRIDES is the story of two teenage girls in search of freedom, friendship, and belonging who run away from their lives in the UK with a dangerous plan of travelling to Syria. A road movie about the intensity of female friendship and the mistakes of teenagehood, BRIDES is a bold, emotionally charged coming-of-age drama and a rousing debut feature by Young Vic’s Nadia Fall.

BRIDES Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P39HR7T3Ppk

Teenage best friends Doe and Muna are heading off on what seems like the trip of a lifetime. Quiet, observant Doe hasn’t travelled since arriving in the UK as a Somali refugee aged three. Muna, sharp and fearless with Pakistani roots, leads them through airport security and into the unknown.

But this isn’t a holiday. The girls are bound for Istanbul, planning to cross into Syria to begin a new life they believe holds purpose and meaning. When their fixer fails to appear, panic sets in, but turning back isn’t an option. Alone in a foreign city, they must improvise fast, pushing the limits of their courage, their faith, and their friendship.

Directed by Young Vic’s Nadia Fall in her debut feature, Brides is a bold, emotionally charged coming-of-age drama exploring the paths young British Muslim girls navigate in search of identity and belonging. Told with compassion and urgency, it’s a gripping story of loyalty, lost innocence, and the quiet desperation that drives radical choices.

CAST

Ebada Hassan - DOE

Newcomer Ebada Hassan hails from South London. She was cast in BRIDES following several rounds of workshops and auditions after having responded to an open casting call on social media that was posted by celebrated casting director Shaheen Baig. Following the shoot, she returned to University and recently graduated from King's College London with a BA in Global Health and Social Medicine.

Safiyya Ingar - MUNA

Safiyya Ingar is a British actor, voiceover artist, and writer. They have appeared in hit shows such as THE WITCHER and SUMMER OF ROCKETS alongside indie features including LAYLA which premiered at Sundance in 2024. Ingar was born to an Indian Muslim family and brought up in an East London flat with six siblings.

FILMMAKERS

Led by a predominantly female team, BRIDES is a collaboration between the UK (England & Wales), Italy and Turkey.

Director - Nadia Fall

Nadia Fall is the new Artistic Director of the Young Vic theatre in London. She was formerly Artistic Director and CEO of Theatre Royal Stratford East, and was an associate director at the National Theatre from 2015 to 2018. In 2020, Fall was named as a Sky Arts ambassador in 2020 and included as a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2023. BRIDES is Nadia’s debut feature film.

Writer - Suhayla El-Bushra

Suhayla El-Bushra is a screenwriter and playwright. She has written for TV drama series HOLLYOAKS, BECOMING ELIZABETH and was a lead writer and executive producer on ACKLEY BRIDGE (C4/The Forge). Her short film BUSH was made by Film4/Neon Films, and she was selected for BAFTA Elevate in 2018. BRIDES is Suhayla's debut feature film.

FOR AUDIENCES WHO LOVED

● Rocks

● Rye Lane

● Scrapper

● After Love

● A Real Pain

Brides is out now in cinemas.