It’s not often that a movie you don’t really want to see surprises you, challenges you, and stays with you for days afterwards. Adam, the movie, is a simple tale beautifully told which will generate much discussion amongst your friends.

First time feature film director Maryam Touzani gives us the story of Adam, in a movie based on a real life encounter her parents had with a young pregnant woman.

Abla (Lubna Azabal) runs a modest local bakery from her home in Casablanca where she lives alone with her 8-year-old daughter, Warda (Douae Belkhaouda). Each night, after a busy day, Abla helps Warda with her homework, tucks her in bed and then prepares for the next day. It’s a never end cycle which appears to be sapping her strength.

Also in town is Samia (Nisrin Erradi) a young heavily pregnant single woman who has left her hometown to have the baby and return alone, without anyone knowing about the child. We meet her knocking on doors trying to find work and a bed for the night.

When she arrives at Abla’s door she is turned away. Exhausted she settles in a nearby nook for the night. Alba, herself a single mum after the loss of her husband, notices her and eventually takes her in for one night, a night that changes both their lives.

The slow unravelling of Alba and the decisions Samia has to confront had me on the edge of my seat.

“If he stays with me he’s doomed, it he goes I will never know.” Samia

Adam, the movie is a gentle exploration of a simple tale very well told. A tale of the journey between loss, new life and a mothers love. All the performances were beautiful, tender, riveting and realistic. The movie is a reminder that you don’t need all the bells and whistles to grab and keep an audiences attention, a simple, well told story is enough. It will keep you thinking for hours afterwards and test whether you are an optimist or pessimist.

For more information go to Perth Festival. On at UWA Somerville Outdoor Auditorium Feb 24 to March 1.