Fremont

A young Afghan woman, formerly an employee of American troops in Afghanistan, attempts to make a life for herself in Fremont, California. Loneliness, laughs, and fortune cookies are on the menu in Babak Jalali’s newest offering.

Donya is an Afghan woman in her twenties who used to be a translator for American troops in Afghanistan. Now she lives with other Afghan immigrants in Fremont while working at a fortune cookie factory in San Francisco. Safe, but rootless, the closest she comes to her home country is a local restaurant with Afghan soap operas tirelessly blaring on the TV screen. When she is offered the position of fortune writer at her job, she takes this chance to send a message into the world, hoping to break out of her loneliness.

Fremont portrays a life fundamentally rattled by war, without ever needing to go beyond mundane everyday life. With an offbeat cast of characters and a solid serving of wry humour, it carries the spirit of Jim Jarmusch while standing perfectly well on its own two feet. Star Anaita Wali Zada impresses in her debut film role, giving a performance that is as funny as it is tinged with melancholy.

«The screenplay by Jalali and Carolina Cavalli is rich with lyrical aphorisms – lines that you want to sit with and savor like a pot still whiskey or homemade brisket. Complimented by beautiful black-and-white photography, bone-dry humor, and engrossing performances, Fremont is a refreshing take on the lonely heart.»
– Kent M. Wilhelm, Tilt Magazine –

Jenny Lund

Director

Babak Jalali (b. 1978) is an Iranian-British director, writer, and producer. He studied at London Film School, and his graduation film Heydar: An Afghan in Tehran (2005) was nominated for a BAFTA. His sophomore feature Radio Dreams (2016) was awarded the Hivos Tiger Award at International Film Festival Rotterdam. Fremont is his fourth feature film.

This film is part of