Welcome to ‘The Station,” Where the Rules Are: “No Men. No Weapons. No Politics.”
The Station is the debut fiction feature by Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq, set in a war-torn Yemen and centered on a women-only petrol station that serves as a safe haven. The film follows Layal, who reunites with her estranged sister to save her younger brother from enlistment. Premiering at Cannes Critics’ Week, the film challenges dominant narratives about Yemen by focusing on resilience and personal agency.
- ▪The Station is directed by Sara Ishaq, known for her documentary work, and co-written with Nadia Eliewat.
- ▪The story centers on a women-only petrol station in Yemen with strict rules: 'No Men. No Weapons. No Politics.'
- ▪The film premiered at the 65th Cannes Critics’ Week and features a cast of Yemeni actors.
- ▪Ishaq was inspired to make the film after years of documenting conflict in Yemen and feeling that mainstream narratives ignored the full human experience.
- ▪The Station aims to shift the portrayal of Yemen away from images of perpetual suffering toward stories of resistance and solidarity.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
'The Station' Courtesy of Critics' Week Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment “No Men. No Weapons. No Politics.” So reads a sign that we see in the opening moments of The Station (Al Mahattah), the debut fiction feature of Yemeni-Scottish director Sara Ishaq (documentary The Mulberry House). Its simple story is set in a complex world. “Layal runs a women-only petrol station (aka a gas station in U.S. English) in Yemen, a safe haven in a war-torn country,” highlights a summary of the film. Its rules are listed on the just-mentioned sign.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hollywood Reporter.
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